Written by Jacob Matthews.
President Donald Trump is ramping up efforts to cut down on what he sees as wasteful government spending. In a recent interview before the Super Bowl, he revealed the next federal agencies under scrutiny, signaling major changes ahead.
Speaking with Fox News’ Brett Baier, Trump said he’s directing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to examine the Department of Education and the Department of Defense. This move follows the recent shutdown of USAID, a foreign aid agency that had resisted oversight.
“I’m going to tell him very soon… to go check the Department of Education,” Trump stated. “He’s going to find the same thing. Then, I’m going to go into the military. Let’s check the military. We’re going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse, and the people elected me on that.”
Federal Bureaucracy Faces a Reckoning
Trump’s comments come on the heels of a dramatic confrontation between USAID officials and DOGE representatives. After being ordered to review the agency’s spending, USAID employees physically blocked DOGE officials from entering their offices. The defiance made headlines and put a spotlight on the resistance within federal agencies to budgetary oversight.
Despite the pushback, Trump gave DOGE the green light to shut USAID down entirely. This decision, though controversial, sent a strong message to other agencies. Now, with the Department of Education and the military on the chopping block for potential budget cuts, Washington insiders are bracing for another round of upheaval.
The Education Department’s Uncertain Future
The Department of Education may be next in line for major restructuring—or outright elimination. Trump has long been critical of the agency, questioning its effectiveness and its massive budget.
On Feb. 4, Trump reiterated his position, saying he had instructed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to essentially work herself out of a job. “I told Linda, ‘Linda, I hope you do a great job and put yourself out of a job.’ I want her to put herself out of a job,” he stated.
Trump backed up his remarks by citing studies showing that the U.S. spends more on education than other countries but fails to rank significantly higher in performance. This argument aligns with a long-standing conservative push to return educational control to states and local communities, rather than keeping it centralized in Washington.
What’s Next for the Pentagon?
Trump’s plan to audit the military could be even more contentious. While conservatives generally support defense spending, there is growing concern over waste, inefficiency, and unchecked military contracts. Trump believes that by cutting unnecessary spending, taxpayer dollars can be redirected to more pressing national priorities.
The Department of Defense manages an enormous budget, often with little oversight. Trump’s remarks suggest that he believes significant savings can be found within the military’s vast network of contractors, bureaucracies, and programs that may not serve the country’s best interests.
Our Take
Trump’s latest efforts to trim government fat are bound to stir up controversy. The pushback from bureaucrats, as seen with USAID, shows just how entrenched some of these agencies have become. There’s a deep resistance to accountability, which raises the question: What are they trying to hide?
Cutting down on federal waste is a no-brainer, yet every time it’s attempted, career government officials push back. If the Department of Education has been dumping billions into programs with little to show for it, shouldn’t taxpayers demand answers? And if the Pentagon is funneling money into bloated contracts and redundant programs, shouldn’t someone take a closer look?
Bureaucratic overreach has been a problem for decades, and Trump’s aggressive approach could be what’s needed to finally force real reform. The federal government was never meant to be a massive, unchecked entity, and it’s about time someone held it accountable.
Trump’s plan to shine a light on these agencies is a step in the right direction. If his audits reveal widespread waste, it will be a major win for taxpayers. But expect fierce resistance—the federal government doesn’t like being told no.
