Milei government to target state bodies with ‘mega decree’

Argentina’s government is working round-the-clock to finalise the details of a new “mega-decree” that will merge, restructure or shut down some 50 state bodies and agencies.

The decree, the last part of President Javier Milei’s “deep chainsaw” plan of sweeping spending cuts, could be presented to the public as early as Friday, a source within the Casa Rosada said.

“We are working on it at the moment, so that in a few days we will have it ready and we will present it,” they added.

“We will probably present the decree on Friday or Monday,” an “important source” in the Presidency told Noticias Argentinas on Tuesday.

The source would tell the agency which agencies would be targeted for restructure or shuttered, but added: “We are working on it at the moment, so in a few days we will have it ready and we will present it.”

However, the new agency reported that several state bodies, firms and organisations, including the National Mint, would face major changes.

Additional areas that could be closed, or are believed to be under consideration for termination, include the Housing Secretariat, the INCAA state film institute and state media outlets TV Pública and Radio Nacional.

Milei trailed the move in a TV interview with the LN+ news channel on Monday. Declaring that “the chainsaw continues,” he said around 50 state bodies are in the crosshairs.

“We are going against 50 state bodies,” said the President.

– TIMES/NA