By JOHN KREMKAJEWSKI and MARK PELTONA, Associated PressPresident Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. government, including a shift in priorities and priorities’ changes that could reshape the nation’s foreign relations.
But the reorganization also could make it harder for the Trump administration to fulfill a key campaign promise to dismantle a series of trade deals.
As a result, some Trump administration officials, who had pledged to “drain the swamp,” have been forced to scramble to keep up with the shifting political landscape and respond quickly to potential changes to the administration.
Trump’s transition team had planned to release a sweeping overhaul of the government within the first month of his presidency, but the White House has postponed the launch.
Trump will also have to scramble for money to pay for many of the agencies and departments he has vowed to eliminate.
Trump has vowed a new era of government, and he has touted his desire to focus on reducing the nation´s massive federal deficit.
The president has also pledged to end “the political correctness that has infected our government and culture,” and his budget proposal included $2 trillion in cuts to U.N. programs and foreign aid.
On Thursday, Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that they will focus on eliminating waste, fraud and abuse and reducing the size of government.
The plan is expected to be unveiled next month.
In a briefing on Thursday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the Trump-Mnuchin team had already made plans to make the government more efficient and effective.
Spicer said Trump and Mnuchin have “a good working relationship” on the budget, including how to streamline the federal government.
Trump has repeatedly praised Mnuchin for his work on the campaign, including on Twitter.
Spicy, spicy, spicy — and that’s what I want to hear.
I want that to be the first thing you hear.
@realDonaldTrump on @MnBudget https://t.co/zM3RpX4WJy — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2021Spicer also praised the administration for hiring two new staffers for the White Houses Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and for moving to an office where people with expertise in the field are hired.
“There are a lot of new hires and there is a lot that can be done,” Spicer said.
The White House is expected, however, to cut funding for a variety of agencies that serve as vital components of U.D.C., such as the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and the Office for Civil Rights.
Spicer said that he would not be surprised if the administration ends up cutting funding for programs that help low-income Americans access affordable housing and health care.
Trump said in a statement that he will make the first cut in these departments, but he added that he was looking forward to “the day when we are able to eliminate the swamp.”
He also called on Congress to continue to work on a $2.7 trillion spending bill that will help fund the transition, but added that his administration would continue to push for changes to help ensure “that our people get the jobs they need.”
In a speech to the American Enterprise Institute, Trump praised Congress for passing the “historic” $1 trillion infrastructure package, but called for a “big and bold” package that includes funding for “a massive infrastructure plan that will rebuild the nation, increase American prosperity and help Americans get ahead again.”
In his remarks, Trump said that his priority is to “keep our promises to the people of America, and to the taxpayers of the United States.”
But Trump, who is also expected to sign a new budget proposal, has said he wants to see the budget that the U:S.
Congress approved for the 2018 fiscal year, which runs through March, go up in flames.
The president is also set to sign two executive orders, one aimed at undoing the health care law and the other aimed at gutting the Environmental Protection Agency.
He said that these orders were important in the fight against climate change, but that they were “not going to be enough” to solve the problem.
“The only way to stop climate change is to stop the destruction of the environment,” Trump said at a press conference with President Xi Jinping.
“And I believe we can stop the climate change.”
Trump has also announced a $25 billion plan to create “the greatest manufacturing jobs in history,” and has said that the plan would also create “millions of jobs.”
The White Houses plan is to begin implementing the administration´s budget proposal by March 25, but has already drawn criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike.
On the House side, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that it was “time for Congress to take action to make sure the Trump Administration is on track to deliver on its campaign promises and deliver on their promise to the country and the world.”
Pelosi said the GOP will continue to block the spending bill from going