DeSantis Denounces Weaponization of Federal Bureaucracy, Says President Should ‘Clean House’

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke out against the weaponization of the federal bureaucracy during an appearance in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on April 1, calling for the president to take action and “clean house” of federal bureaucrats.

Republicans, since retaking the House, have started investigating how the federal law enforcement apparatus has allegedly been weaponized against political foes. During his speech at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, DeSantis suggested that the bureaucracy is another way by which the federal government has been weaponized.

He argues that the best solution to bring an end to the weaponization of the bureaucracy would be a president’s ability to remove bureaucrats, making them eligible for termination at the president’s discretion.

DeSantis kicked off his speech by referring to his COVID-19 policies. While the remainder of the nation responded with lockdowns, masks, and mandates, Florida remained open and unrestricted during the pandemic.

“The scary thing is that these folks are not finished,” said DeSantis, linking this issue to larger GOP issues regarding the weaponization of federal law enforcement and the federal government. “They will do anything they can to try to exert power over you.”

Weaponization of the Bureaucracy

According to DeSantis, the bureaucracy is an integral part of the overall weaponization of law enforcement.

“This is a bureaucracy that is completely out of touch, particularly the FBI and Department of Justice,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis cited former President Ronald Reagan’s quote, who famously stated that the most frightening words one can hear in English are, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

“He was correct about that,” DeSantis added. “I believe that the distinction between Reagan’s time and ours is that, yes, the bureaucracy is still doing all of those things.

“But the bureaucracy has been weaponized against people that the elites do not approve of,” claimed DeSantis, referencing an IRS scandal involving the targeting of conservative groups, COVID-19 mandates, and FBI targeting of parents that have concerns and speak out at school board meetings.

The bureaucracy “sought to impose a rule on this country by fiat, stating that you do not have the right to make a living unless you submit to receiving a COVID shot. This is a bureaucracy that does not have your best interests at heart, a bureaucracy that works with big tech firms to censor accurate information, whether it has to do with the 2020 election or COVID-19,” DeSantis stated, referring to findings indicating that the White House colluded with major tech platforms to censor and suppress stories critical of U.S. policy regarding COVID-19, including the usefulness of lockdowns, masks, and the new mRNA vaccine.

However, DeSantis emphasized that “most of the facts that they were conspiring with people like [Dr. Anthony Fauci] to suppress were the truth.”

Power of the Purse

DeSantis believes that the solution to the weaponization of bureaucracy is for Congress to exercise its power of the purse.

DeSantis is not the first Republican to suggest this solution. All funding bills under the Constitution must begin in the House, and Republicans have proposed using this authority to refuse funding to accused political weaponization bodies such as the Department of Justice, FBI, and IRS.

“Why did we arrive at this point? We arrived here because Congress has neglected to hold these agencies responsible,” DeSantis stated. “You have the power of the purse. Don’t put the government on autopilot. If they misuse authority, you must use your purse strings when you make legislation. Make sure you’re telling them what needs to be done. Don’t allow bureaucrats to fill in the blanks; this removes legislative authority from the people in charge and gives it to unelected bureaucrats.”

Additionally, DeSantis stated that a “resolute and disciplined executive” is necessary “to methodically weed out these politicized bureaucracies.”