Every few years someone promises to abolish a federal agency or a police department. Here is what actually happened, with sources.
Activists, some city councils · 2020–2021
Defund / Abolish the Police
The pitch: After George Floyd’s murder in May 2020, “defund” and “abolish the police” became rallying cries, and several city councils cut police budgets.
How it worked out: Minneapolis voters rejected Question 2, which would have replaced the police department with a Department of Public Safety, 56.17% to 43.83% on Nov. 2, 2021. The police department is still there. City of Minneapolis (official results) · AP News
The cuts didn’t stick either. Austin cut about $150 million from police in 2020, then approved a record ~$442 million police budget in 2021 after a new state law penalized “defunding” cities. NYC shifted roughly $1 billion in 2020, then added $200 million for the NYPD in 2021. Los Angeles cut $150 million, then gave LAPD a 3% increase. Portland cut about $15 million, then added $5.2 million in late 2021. Texas Tribune · NBC News · AP News (Portland)
Crime context, stated carefully: U.S. murders rose 29.4% in 2020, the largest one-year increase the FBI has recorded. It happened nationwide, in cities that cut budgets and cities that didn’t, during a pandemic. Researchers still debate why, so we don’t claim “defund” caused it. FBI · CDC/NCHS
Sen. Arlen Specter and others · 1995 to today
Abolish the ATF
The pitch: After Ruby Ridge (1992) and Waco (1993), Sen. Arlen Specter, who chaired the Senate Ruby Ridge hearings, said in 1995 that the ATF had “outlived its usefulness” and should be dissolved.
How it worked out: The Senate panel’s report criticized the ATF but didn’t recommend abolishing it. Members of Congress still file “Abolish the ATF Act” bills (H.R. 374 in 2023, H.R. 129 in 2025); both were referred to committee. The ATF still exists. Washington Post (1995) · Spokesman-Review (1995) · Congress.gov, H.R. 129
FairTax supporters in Congress · 1999 to today
Abolish the IRS (the FairTax)
The pitch: The FairTax Act would replace federal income taxes with a national sales tax and abolish the IRS. It has been filed again and again since 1999, most recently as H.R. 25.
How it worked out: It has never received a House floor vote. The 2025 version was referred to the Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 3, 2025, and is still listed as “Introduced.” The IRS still exists. Congress.gov, H.R. 25 actions · GovTrack (2023 version)
Sen. Rand Paul and others · 2012
Abolish (privatize) the TSA
The pitch: In 2012 Sen. Rand Paul filed S. 3303 to have airport screening done by private companies instead of TSA employees.
How it worked out: It was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee and never got a vote. The TSA still screens passengers at most U.S. airports. GovTrack, S. 3303 · Politico
Rep. Mark Pocan and others · 2018
Abolish ICE (the first time)
The pitch: In 2018 “Abolish ICE” went mainstream, and Rep. Mark Pocan introduced H.R. 6361 to end the agency and move its functions elsewhere.
How it worked out: The bill died without a vote. The House instead passed a resolution supporting ICE, 244–35. ICE’s budget was about $7.9 billion in FY2018; in 2025 Congress added $75 billion over four years on top of its roughly $10 billion annual budget. GovTrack, H.R. 6361 · NBC News · NPR (2026)