Democrats Beg Biden To Protect What?
As President Biden enters the final stretch of his administration, a growing number of Capitol Hill Democrats are urging him to take bold, unilateral actions to protect his party’s achievements and shield federal agencies from the promised reforms of a potential second Trump administration. These Democrats see Biden as a crucial firewall against what they perceive as President-elect Trump’s agenda to dismantle the federal bureaucracy, purge agencies of “deep state” actors, and reshape the executive branch to align with his priorities.
Democratic lawmakers are pushing Biden to act decisively in the weeks leading up to the transition of power, particularly since they know that major legislative changes are unlikely with Republicans controlling the House. They argue that Biden should use his remaining time in office to secure Democratic victories through executive orders, finalizing key regulations, and ensuring that federal projects already funded by Congress move forward. Some Democrats have even proposed taking more drastic steps, such as tweaking union contracts for federal employees to protect them from potential purges under Trump’s plans.
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) emphasized the importance of scenario planning, warning that failing to prepare would be political malpractice. He suggested that Biden should consider a broad range of options, including pushing out funding for key projects under the Inflation Reduction Act and the infrastructure bill before Trump has a chance to undo them. Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) echoed this sentiment, advocating for aggressive actions to safeguard Biden-era initiatives, including protections for federal lands from oil and gas development.
At the heart of the Democrats’ concerns is the prospect of Trump using executive power to “clean house” across federal agencies. Some Democrats are particularly alarmed by Trump’s promise to overhaul the Pentagon and other departments, potentially firing top officials, including military generals, in order to remove perceived “woke” influences. This has led to calls for Biden to consider ways to protect military leadership and other key positions.
While Biden’s ability to make lasting changes is limited by the short time left in office and the likely reversal of many executive orders under a new Trump administration, Democrats are nonetheless determined to set the stage for a stark contrast between the two parties. The idea is to use every tool at Biden’s disposal to solidify his legacy, strengthen agencies under attack, and make it harder for Trump to unwind the progress Democrats have made.
For Republicans, however, these efforts to entrench the current administration’s agenda may be seen as a last-ditch attempt to solidify the status quo before Trump, with his promises of government reform and efficiency, takes the reins again. The push for unilateral action from Democrats may only further fuel the debate over executive power and the future direction of the federal government. As the Biden administration races against the clock, the stakes are higher than ever in this battle for control of the nation’s bureaucracy.
