House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) expressed his support for reducing the size of the federal government and indicated he hopes to work alongside billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to eliminate over 75% of federal agencies.
In an interview with Fox News’s Martha MacCallum on Wednesday, Johnson was asked about Musk’s proposal to cut the number of federal agencies from 428 to just 99. “Can it be done?” MacCallum inquired. “We certainly hope so,” Johnson replied. “We want to be willing partners in that. And we have a new ability to do this now.”
Johnson then drew a parallel between Trump’s leadership and the government overhaul efforts, saying, “You know, we have our own version of the Argentinian leader with Donald Trump. We do have to scale back the size and scope of government. It serves the people. It unleashes the free market again.”
The House Speaker went on to discuss some specific areas where he hoped to make cuts, mentioning funding for Planned Parenthood and PBS. He added, “Some of this will be done by executive order out of the White House, but this is part of that, preparing the playbook to unleash and unroll in January.”
Johnson’s comments align with a broader GOP push to reduce government spending and streamline federal programs. The proposed cuts would represent a major reshaping of the federal bureaucracy, with Republicans emphasizing that such reforms would better serve the public by promoting a more efficient, market-driven government.
The idea of reducing the size and reach of the federal government has long been a cornerstone of Republican policy, and Johnson’s comments signal that the new House leadership is prepared to move forward aggressively with such initiatives, particularly in collaboration with influential figures like Musk. As the new Congress prepares for its upcoming session, these government efficiency measures are likely to remain a key focus of Republican lawmakers.