I will fire 50% of federal government employees as president, says Ron DeSantis: Florida governor vows to massively cut ‘power in DC’ — and jokes about moving laid-off staff to IOWA
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pledged to lay off 50% of federal government workforce
- Came Thursday during a campaign stop in Augusta, South Carolina
- DeSantis answered several questions from the public after criticism for not speaking publicly to voters at his campaign events
Florida’s governor said that as president he would lead in a “new era of accountability in Washington, D.C. by ensuring that federal agencies are not given an unbalanced amount of centralized power.”
“We’re going to reduce the footprint in Washington DC,” DeSantis said Thursday during remarks to a crowd gathered in North Augusta, South Carolina.
“We are going to issue an edict to all cabinet secretaries to reduce the footprint of their agencies in Washington DC by at least 50%,” the Florida governor said of his plans if he becomes president. “Firing people, attrition, send them to Dubuque, whatever you want.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told South Carolina voters at a campaign rally on Thursday that he would fire 50% of the federal government agency’s staff if he becomes president
He concluded, “But we have too much consolidation of power in Washington DC and we need to do something about it.”
DeSantis, who has only been on the campaign trail for less than a month, was criticized by some reporters for not answering voter questions at his events. However, the governor told the South Carolina crowd on Thursday to ask him their questions after his stupid speech in the early state primary.
Steve Peoples of the Associated Press asked DeSantis as he walked around talking and taking pictures with voters why he “doesn’t answer voter questions.”
“What are you talking about, I’m talking to people here. Are you blind?’ DeSantis shot back at the reporter.
“I’m not blind,” he replied in the conversation captured on camera by NBC News.
“So people come to me and talk to me about anything they want to talk to me about,” he added.
The first “question” on Thursday came from an 85-year-old man who said he just wanted to tell DeSantis he has his support, but had no further investigation.
“God bless you,” DeSantis told the man before answering several questions—one from a veteran of the Marine Corps; another from a law enforcement officer; one from a high school junior named Drew; one from a mother with a daughter worried about biological men playing in women’s sports and another from a man who said he still didn’t know who he would vote for in 2024.
One participant said he attended the remarks on behalf of a group of struggling military veterans who hope to see marijuana decriminalized. “I don’t think we would,” DeSantis answered bluntly before explaining the negative effects of widespread drug use on children.
After refusing to answer questions from the public following his first campaign event today in New Hampshire, Ron DeSantis lashed out at a reporter for asking him about it while talking to individual members of the public.
Here’s the video, via @NBCNews ¿> pic.twitter.com/Z2WtLy0JNj
— Jonathan Allen (@jonallendc) June 1, 2023
The governor answered several questions from the crowd after criticism from reporters that he did not speak publicly to voters
But DeSantis’ message was reminiscent of former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, where he vowed to “drain the Washington swamp” by implementing new leadership and cleanup work at federal agencies as well.
“We need a new era of accountability in these D.C. agencies, and we will bring that with me on day one,” DeSantis assured. “You’re getting a new FBI director. You’re going to get the Justice Department cleaned up.”
DeSantis engaged with voters over his remarks at a gymnasium in North Augusta, South Carolina, where the scoreboard showed him that both teams were tied at 47, the number of the next U.S. president.
“I want your support, I need your support,” DeSantis said in conclusion of his remarks before answering questions.