President Donald Trump on Thursday proposed a new set of regulations to combat corruption within the executive branch and to drain the swamp of Obama officials, while at the same time, promising a more robust agenda to tackle economic inequality and national security threats.
The president said he wants to “drain” the swamp, an adjective he used to describe the Obama administration’s corruption problems, as well as the bureaucracy and regulatory agencies.
“The swamp is a term we will use to describe our executive branch,” Trump said in a news conference.
“It’s a very, very, large swamp.”
Trump is calling for an end to the Obama years’ “culture of corruption” in the executive and judicial branches, which he said has resulted in “corruption at every level of government.”
“I want to go back to a culture of integrity,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
“When I look at the past two administrations, they were not just corrupt.
They were criminal.
They had no regard for the rule of law.
They didn’t care about the rule, for the citizens of this country,” he said.”
I don’t think you can just throw somebody in jail for a crime they didn’t commit.”
He added: “The swamp will be drained, and you’ll see great results, you’ll get things done.
I want to drain it.
The swamp is draining.”
Trump’s call for a new executive order, a draft document obtained by The Associated Press, lays out his plan to curb the influence of the Obama era’s revolving door between government and business.
The plan, which is expected to be released on Friday, would also ban federal employees from participating in lobbying or political activity if they’re not members of the executive’s Cabinet.
Trump also called for an overhaul of the way federal agencies collect data, including creating an office to oversee the collection of data.
The document would also allow for the firing of employees who are found to have engaged in political activity.
The plan also calls for the establishment of an independent, non-partisan commission to review the nation’s cybersecurity, public health and environmental threats.
It would also require a $15-an-hour minimum wage for federal workers, as he has demanded for the past four years.
The White House said the plan would not require congressional approval, and could be implemented “without any change in law or regulation.”
“President Trump and the Administration are committed to holding all of our government officials accountable,” a White House statement said.
“We will be transparent about the process, including how it will work and who will be in charge of the new administration.”
Trump, who campaigned on a promise to fight corruption and corruption within his administration, has made the issue a centerpiece of his presidency.
He has also promised to crack down on corruption within government agencies.
The administration has repeatedly been criticized for its handling of the Russia investigation, which has been the focus of several investigations into the Trump campaign’s contacts with Russia, including the FBI.
Trump said Thursday he has spoken with Attorney General Jeff Sessions about the Russia probe, which prompted Sessions to resign from his post on Tuesday.
Trump’s executive order on the corruption of the federal government is expected in the coming weeks.