Mark Moyar, a former Trump appointee, is shedding light on why Donald Trump’s next presidency needs to take a more aggressive approach in cutting down the federal bureaucracy. Moyar, who served in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), detailed his experience in his book Masters of Corruption, explaining how bureaucratic resistance blocked his whistleblowing efforts and hampered his ability to work.
During Trump’s first term, many federal employees actively worked against his administration’s policies, Moyar explained. Known as the “Resistance,” these bureaucrats leaked information, created delays, and used their power to undermine Trump’s agenda. This internal opposition significantly hindered the president’s ability to make progress on key policies that his voters supported.
Moyar’s experience illustrates how federal agencies are often filled with career bureaucrats who block reform efforts, sometimes going so far as to sabotage political appointees who try to make changes. His book outlines how his efforts to reveal corruption within USAID were met with retaliation, as his security clearance was withheld, preventing him from doing his job.
Moyar argues that Trump must take a more forceful approach in a second term to ensure that bureaucrats cannot derail his agenda. Project 2025, a plan aimed at downsizing the federal workforce, is part of that solution. While Trump has distanced himself from this plan, Moyar emphasizes that such a strategy is essential to prevent bureaucrats from undermining elected officials.
Trump has suggested appointing Elon Musk to conduct an audit of the federal government, a move that Moyar supports. Musk has hinted at a significant reduction in the size of the government to address inefficiencies and rein in bureaucratic power. Moyar’s experience shows that without such measures, federal employees will continue to obstruct conservative policies, making meaningful reform nearly impossible.