“We would do Education, we would do Commerce, we’d do Energy, and we would do IRS,” DeSantis said in an interview with Fox News’ Martha MacCallum when he was asked whether he favored closing any agencies.

“If Congress will work with me on doing that, we’ll be able to reduce the size and scope of government,” he added. “If Congress won’t go that far, I’m going to use those agencies to push back against woke ideology and against the leftism that we see creeping into all institutions of American life.” …

While Trump hasn’t said he would try to eliminate the Education Department if he is elected in 2024, he has proposed eliminating federal funding for “any school or program pushing critical race theory, gender ideology or other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content onto our children.”

[Trump didn’t attempt to eliminate any of these agencies, but in his defense, neither did Republicans in Congress — who controlled both chambers in 2017-18. DeSantis wisely made it contingent on getting Congress to work with him. First off, presidents can’t simply eliminate agencies. Second, DeSantis’ emphasis is intended to remind primary voters that the top of the ticket matters when it comes to Senate and House races next year. — Ed]