Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei, swept into office on Sunday with a promise to drastically cut the size of the government and reduce its reach into citizens’ lives. In his first executive action, Milei rearranged the federal executive branch, reducing the number of cabinet-level ministries from 18 to nine.
This move fulfills one of Milei’s core campaign promises, which he highlighted in many public appearances. He used a massive flow chart of the federal government to scratch out ministries one by one, describing many as useless or even harmful. The new president, who campaigned on a platform of small government and libertarian ideals, made the elimination of at least half of the government’s top ministries a top priority for his administration.
Milei’s actions on his first day in office signal a dramatic shift in the way the Argentine government operates. Many of the eliminated ministries were folded into new offices, suggesting that their functions will continue with a much smaller office and reduced staff. Three ministries – the General Ministry, the Office of Media and Communications, and the Legal and Technical Office – were elevated to cabinet level. Milei’s sister, Karina, was appointed to lead the General Ministry, which required the signing of a separate executive order to undo limitations on appointing family members to top positions.
The nine cabinet-level ministries in the Argentine federal government now include the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Security, the Ministry of Health, and the new Ministry of Human Capital. Three offices – the General Secretariat, Legal and Technical Secretariat, and Communications and Press Secretariat – were also elevated to the cabinet, though they will not function as full ministries.
The eliminated ministries were officially folded into other offices, resulting in the loss of jobs for many of those leading the ministries and their staff. Milei’s new Ministry of Human Capital absorbed the Ministry of Education; Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security; the Ministry of Culture; the Ministry of Social Development; and the Ministry of Women, Gender, and Diversity.
Milei’s speedy execution of his government size reduction plan has surprised some political observers, who were not expecting such a swift reorganization of the federal executive branch. The president has stated that his goal is to create an Argentina where everyone wants to produce, but it may not happen overnight. The country is currently facing its most severe economic crisis in history, with high inflation rates, unemployment, crime, and poverty plaguing the population.
Despite concerns from government workers about losing their jobs, Milei’s presidential spokesman, Manuel Adorni, assured that productive state employees need not worry. He stated that the government’s goal is to eliminate “militant employment” and corruption in the public sector, not to harm those who genuinely contribute to society.
In his inauguration speech, Milei warned that the situation in the country would worsen before it gets better, but he promised to fight corruption and bring prosperity to Argentina in the long term. He called for a change in the system that has kept the country in poverty for over a century and pledged to embrace the ideas of liberty to lead Argentina towards a better future.