President Joe Biden is taking steps to reinforce the structure and policies of the United States public health bureaucracy.
According to Breitbart News, this move ensures resilience against possible policy reversals by Donald Trump if he returns to power.
In recent efforts, President Biden has strategized to protect and solidify the ideological groundwork within key health agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Part of this strategy includes the formation of a scientific integrity council, which ensures that decisions are based on transparent and reliable evidence, devoid of partisan influence.
Lyric Jorgenson, an official at the NIH, spoke on the necessity of these measures. She emphasized the importance of preventing political interference in scientific research.
"Interfering and manipulating science to fit a partisan agenda is inappropriate and is what we’re working to wall against," Jorgenson said. This initiative involves generating steadfast and trustworthy data to guide public health decisions.
The Biden administration's efforts are not limited to public health but extend to broader areas such as climate change and economic policies. They have been proactive, rolling out a significant number of new regulations. In April alone, the administration implemented 66 new rules, a notable increase compared to the number of regulations issued at the same stage during Trump's presidency.
These new rules are safeguarded under the Congressional Review Act, which stipulates that an incoming administration cannot reverse any regulation implemented within a specified period. This creates a buffer against immediate policy reversals should Trump be re-elected.
On the other side, conservative figures and groups are actively preparing strategies to curb the influence of the Biden-endorsed bureaucratic structure. These preparations are directed toward ensuring a smoother implementation of conservative policies if Trump or a similar candidate assumes office.
Russell Vought, expressing discontent with past policy processes, highlighted conservatives' readiness for potential governmental shifts. "The President never had a policy process designed to give him what he wanted and campaigned on," Vought explained. This evident preparation outlines the tactical approaches being planned by groups opposing the current administrative ethos.
Before the 2020 election, Donald Trump initiated a controversial order known as Schedule F, which aimed to reclassify certain federal employees to enhance managerial flexibility and accountability. Biden revoked this order, citing potential risks to administrative neutrality. However, Trump has indicated plans to reinstate Schedule F, arguing it would remove unwarranted protections within the bureaucracy. "You have some people that are protected that shouldn’t be protected," Trump stated, highlighting his stance on federal employment reforms.
Michael Gerrard, an expert on regulatory affairs, commented on the stability of these rules under the current legislative body. "The rules are safe in this Congress," he noted, yet he warned of uncertainty if the Republicans gain control. Vought's commentary further underscores this political tug-of-war: "The mere mention of Schedule F ensures that the bureaucracy moves in your direction."
In conclusion, as the 2024 presidential election approaches, the current administration and its opponents are meticulously preparing for the possible outcomes. Biden's administration focuses on embedding durable, progressive policies within the federal structure, while conservative groups gear up to redirect the course if they regain power. This dynamic highlights the continuous evolution and the tug-of-war within the U.S. administrative state.
