Deep Dive: Understanding Federal Agencies

How do federal agencies work in practice? How have federal agencies contributed to government expansion, and what reforms could streamline their operations in the future?

When Elon, RFK Jr., and Vivek talk about an overgrown and ineffective federal bureaucracy, they are referring to the 400+ federal agencies that form the operational backbone of the U.S. federal government. Why have federal agencies become a lightning rod for criticism? First, federal agencies are the largest employer in the U.S., a larger employer than both Walmart and Amazon. They also issue thousands of regulations annually, which far exceeds the number of laws passed by Congress during its biennial term. Given that these regulations touch nearly every aspect of American life today and…