The Blubber

In a move to challenge the so-called "deep state," Trump unveiled a "10-point plan to dismantle the deep state" in a video posted on the Trump War Room Twitter account on Tuesday. He asserted that the plan would "reclaim our democracy from Washington once and for all" by dismantling a supposed network of influential figures allegedly controlling the government from behind the scenes—a recurring theme in some right-wing circles.

Although Trump frequently spoke about the deep state during his presidency, he shared in an earlier video this year that he "wasn't a believer" in the concept until more recently. A commission to uncover this alleged network was just one component of the plan his 2024 campaign presented. Here’s a summary of the 10 points in the plan:

Executive Order to Remove 'Rogue Bureaucrats'

Trump pledged to re-issue his 2020 executive order to give the president authority to remove "rogue bureaucrats," saying he would use the power "very aggressively." The original order, established in October 2020 but never fully enacted, introduced "Schedule F," a federal employment category aimed at removing civil service protections for certain government roles.

Overhaul Federal Agencies, Remove 'Corrupt' Officials

He vowed to clean out "corrupt actors" in national security and intelligence agencies, which he claimed are "weaponized" against conservatives and other perceived opponents. This aligns with GOP narratives on government “weaponization,” which led to the House forming a committee to investigate federal agencies. Despite the committee’s efforts, they’ve faced scrutiny over credibility and have yet to produce evidence of a large-scale conspiracy.

Reform 'Corrupt' FISA Courts

Trump called for a full reform of the FISA courts, criticizing them for allegedly ignoring false information in warrant applications. The FISA courts, which review government wiretapping requests, have been under fire from both political sides for approving almost all applications. Trump has criticized the courts for supporting what he calls a “witch hunt” in granting a surveillance warrant on former campaign aide Carter Page during the 2016 election.

'Truth and Reconciliation Commission'

Trump proposed establishing a "truth and reconciliation commission" to declassify documents related to alleged deep state activities, including spying and censorship. South Africa’s 1995 post-apartheid commission is the most famous example, created to reveal human rights abuses. Specific details on Trump’s commission are unknown, as is the reason he didn’t declassify any supposed deep state documents during his 2017-2021 term.