On the Scene: Clearing Out the Cabinet

Washington, D.C.

WHEN a group of first-term House Republicans led by Sam Brownback (Kan.) held a press conference in February touting their intention to eliminate four Cabinet-level federal departments, it seemed a nice gesture of freshman earnestness. Newsweek would refer to the group in another context as “the Shiites.” But Shia went mainstream in March, when Bob Dole echoed the freshmen’s call to abolish four departments. Senate conservatives later upped the ante to six, and when the Heritage Foundation released its plan to balance the budget, it went to nine, just to stay on the cutting edge.

About the Author

Rich Lowry

Rich Lowry is the editor in chief of National Review.

Featured Tags

Department of Education

Washington, D.C.

WHEN a group of first-term House Republicans led by Sam Brownback (Kan.) held a press conference in February touting their intention to eliminate four Cabinet-level federal departments, it seemed a nice gesture of freshman earnestness. Newsweek would refer to the group in another context as “the Shiites.” But Shia went mainstream in March, when Bob Dole echoed the freshmen’s call to abolish four departments. Senate conservatives later upped the ante to six, and when the Heritage Foundation released its plan to balance the budget, it went to nine, just to stay on the cutting edge.