Pence supports Trump’s power expansion as it aligns with the populist shift.
Former Vice President Mike Pence on Trump’s Plans to Expand Executive Power
“I’ve seen those reports. And I think they, for me, they sound consistent with the populist turn of the former president and others in this field,” Pence, who served as Trump’s running mate in 2016, said in an interview with the Washington Examiner.
Trump’s Intention to Expand Executive Power
In July, the New York Times reported on Trump’s intention to expand the White House’s authority in another term. Quoting former White House personnel chief John McEntee and former Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell T. Vought, it detailed a multipart endeavor to centralize certain independent parts of the government under the executive branch.
Traditionally independent agencies, such as the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission, would be brought under federal control. Further, plans to investigate Biden, a political rival, if elected, point to an intention of dismissing the past independence of the Department of Justice, which has remained intact since the Watergate scandal.
Trump’s administration would also renew the impounding of federal funds, those familiar with policy proposals told the New York Times. The White House would then have the ability to refuse spending money on programs Congress appropriated it for if he disagrees with them. Fund impounding was made illegal by Congress following perceived abuse by former President Richard Nixon.
“The president’s plan should be to fundamentally reorient the federal government in a way that hasn’t been done since F.D.R.’s New Deal,” McEntee said.
“Our current executive branch was conceived of by liberals for the purpose of promulgating liberal policies. There is no way to make the existing structure function in a conservative manner. It’s not enough to get the personnel right. What’s necessary is a complete system overhaul,” he said.
Vought added, “What we’re trying to do is identify the pockets of independence and seize them.
Pence’s Response to Trump’s Plan
Asked about Trump’s plan for an administration in 2025, Pence said: “I’m not running for president to consolidate power in Washington, D.C., and I intend to make Washington, D.C., smaller.”
“We’ve got a plan to shut down the federal Department of Education, to transfer funding for welfare and healthcare back to the states, to restore federalism,” he said of his campaign.
“My aim as a conservative is going to be to offer a vision of not only fiscal responsibility, but reducing the size and scope of the federal government,” the Indiana Republican said. “And what, at least what’s been reported, seems to be one more example of the former president moving away from our party’s historic commitment to limited government and to federalism.”
Trump’s campaign did not provide comment to the Washington Examiner.
Pence’s Stance on Populism and the Republican Party
Pence’s comments on Trump’s intentions come as the former vice president wages a war on populism within the Republican Party, specifically in the 2024 field. Earlier this week, Pence delivered a major speech in New Hampshire, calling for Republicans to reject populism as it grows in prominence within the GOP.
“As I look at this field, including my former running mate and some of his imitators in the primary, I think we’re coming to a Republican time for choosing,” he said.
According to him, the decision for Republicans is “whether or not we’re going to offer the American people an agenda that’s grounded in our party’s historic commitment to a strong defense, American leadership in the world, free market economics, and fiscal responsibility, traditional values, and the right to life” or be further led astray by populist ideals, which he said are “unmoored to conservative principles.”
Now that Labor Day has passed and the primary campaign is coming into focus, Pence said, “it was an important time” to make the choice clear.
Labor Day is thought by some to be when voters begin tuning into election cycles. But Trump has seen a surge in support from his already towering lead in the primary polls. This rise came in the wake of several indictments for the former president and a slip in the polls for rival Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL).
Despite Trump’s polling stature, Pence is confident that he can win over Republican voters. Asked how he plans to do so, he said, “we’re going to continue to work hard. We were all over the state of Iowa last week, all over New Hampshire this week.”
“Labor Day is generally the time that Americans are kind of ending the enjoyment of the summer, getting back to work. So I’m going to focus a little bit more on politics and on decisions,” he said. “I’m confident, based on the response that we’re getting all across the early states and all across the country, that we’re going to be well because I believe this is a conservative party guy.”
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“At the end of the day, it’s not about personalities,” Pence said. “Republican primary voters, caucusgoers in Iowa, are looking for a leadership in our party that can really bring America back, that can strengthen our military and ensure our security in an ever more dangerous world, that can revive our economy, put our nation back on the path to a balanced budget, and then can defend our liberties and stand for the right to life.”
“The more people come to know us, the more they’ll conclude that, as I say with all humility, I’m the most consistent, the most qualified, the most experienced conservative in the field, and I believe the majority of our Republican voters and caucusgoers are looking for just that. And we’re going to work our hearts out to earn their support,” he said.
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