Trump’s Cleansing of DC — Ensure the Parasites Stay Out for Good

Washington, DC, is overflowing with parasites draining the vitality from our nation.

It’s time for a comprehensive deworming.

Jonathan Rauch aptly termed this “demosclerosis” in his book of the same name.

Mancur Olson referred to it in his classic work, “The Rise and Decline of Nations,” as a “web of special interests.”

I label it the “parasite class.”

Each of these descriptions points to a network of bureaucrats, lobbyists, contractors, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations, and affiliated unions and corporations that have increasingly taken control of our federal government for their personal gain, enriching themselves through misallocated taxpayer funds.

I must admit that until recently, I believed nothing could be done about these issues until a clear financial meltdown occurred, necessitating drastic cuts in spending and regulation similar to what we’ve witnessed in Argentina under Javier Milei.

The circumstances were dire, yet nobody seemed truly committed to addressing them.

However, that situation has shifted.

The Trump administration, along with the Department of Government Efficiency, is implementing some of the cuts that would be necessary in the event of a financial crisis — before such a crisis occurs.

This has displeased the parasites, leading to much outcry.

The DOGE report on the United States Agency for International Development revealed what others, including a 2022 Foreign Policy report, indicated: most funds primarily benefited the Beltway Blob, not impoverished communities abroad.

In numerous instances, the money ended up with NGOs that redirected it for political agendas.

Years ago, I asserted that one of the advantages of democratic elections was the turnover in elected offices, disrupting the network of special-interest ties.

Over time, however, the bureaucracy itself became part of the entrenched ruling class, linking itself with foundations, nonprofits, and academia.

This shift rendered it impervious to elections, forming a vast, unelected power structure.

President Donald Trump’s second term is beginning to dismantle that system, indicating that, at least in some cases, American elections still have the potential to drive change — affecting not just elected offices but also the bureaucracy, media, and academia.

Nonetheless, to ensure these changes endure, spending cuts alone won’t suffice.

We must go further and reform the system itself to protect it against the parasites.

First, there needs to be stricter regulation of nonprofits and NGOs receiving public funds, either directly or indirectly.

In the United States, nonprofits operate with minimal oversight compared to their for-profit counterparts.

These organizations are not merely small charities and orphanages; they are large entities with top executives earning six- and seven-figure salaries, often serving as revolving-door employers for former politicians, bureaucrats, and their families.

This must change.

Any organization that functions as a nonprofit — enjoying all the tax advantages that come with it — should be required to allocate nearly all of its revenues to charitable purposes: aiding the needy, providing shelter for disaster victims, and supporting the ill.

Moreover, they should be obliged to report their financials under regulations as stringent as those for publicly traded for-profit companies.

NGOs are inappropriately labeled: Though designated as “non-governmental,” they are predominantly funded by governments (primarily ours).

They frequently act as agents of government policy without the accountability associated with government.

Many of them gain recognized status at the United Nations, permitting participation in meetings and service as partners in UN and US State Department initiatives.

They even possess a sort of de facto (though not actual) diplomatic recognition.

This must come to an end. Only governmental entities, operating transparently, should attend to government functions.

Furthermore, as illustrated by the unfolding ActBlue controversy, we need to impose restrictions to prevent untraceable foreign funds from flowing to American candidates and causes.

The fundraising giant ActBlue appears to have served as an aware facilitator for illegal international contributions made under false or assumed names, systematically broken up into smaller amounts to evade scrutiny and circumvent campaign-finance regulations.

No measures were taken to stop illicit donations from countries like Russia, China, Venezuela, and Iran, according to the House Administration Committee.

Currently, with Republicans presiding over Congress and Trump in the White House, ActBlue’s management and staff are departing.

Most critically, we must reduce the size of the federal government and its budget.

USAID is to be dismantled, and Trump has pledged to eliminate the Department of Education.

This is just the initial step.

Additional cuts to the bureaucracy must ensue.

Mandating a balanced budget will further curtail corruption and fraud.

At present, with everything financed through limitless borrowing, it’s simple to redirect funds to political endeavors.

Without unrestricted resources, it becomes significantly more challenging: popular programs would inevitably face cutbacks.

By scaling down government, imposing difficult choices, we can cultivate a less corrupt Washington.

Let the parasites earn a living for a change.

Glenn Harlan Reynolds is a law professor at the University of Tennessee and the founder of the InstaPundit.com blog.