Reagan Seeks to Curb Creation of New Programs

In an attempt to curb government bureaucracy, President Reagan plans to issue an executive order requiring all federal agencies and departments to assess whether proposed new programs could be more appropriately handled by state and local jurisdictions, Administration officials said Wednesday.

The sweeping order, a draft of which is being circulated among U.S. officials, is designed to return certain functions to state and local governments under Reagan’s long-cherished concept of “federalism,” the distribution of power between the federal government and the states.

It would have little or no effect on existing programs, but one official said: “We have debated whether we should review current programs to see whether they violate current standards.”

The directive may not be issued until the President returns from his California vacation after Labor Day.

It is one of at least three executive orders--including one on “privatizing” government assets and another requiring federal agencies to assess the impact of federal initiatives on families--that are being reviewed in draft form by Administration officials.

Reagan plans increasingly to resort to presidential directives to implement social policies that he cannot persuade the Democratic-controlled Congress to pass, according to Gary L. Bauer, his chief domestic policy adviser.

Administration officials said the federalism directive will require federal agencies to provide assessments of corresponding state or local capabilities before the Administration will approve the creation of any new programs.

In explaining how it would work, one official said: “Let’s say HUD (the Housing and Urban Development Department) came up with a new housing program that would take upon the federal government functions that previously had been performed by the private housing market on the local level. In sending this idea to the White House, HUD would have to note this intrusion into a state or local matter, and this would be a red flag as to whether we wanted to proceed with the program.”

Helping the Family

Bauer refused to disclose details of any of the proposed executive orders, but he said the one directed at federal programs that affect families corresponds with a longstanding concern of Reagan.

“One of the social issue themes that the President has talked about time and time again is the American family and what we can do to help the family,” he said. “I think before the summer is over we may see some executive orders in the area of helping the American family that may not be earth-shattering but will be positive steps forward.”

Under the proposed family order, Bauer said, departments would be required to attach to any new policy initiative a statement about how the initiative “would impact the American family--would it take away family income or add to family income? Would it undermine the authority of parents or strengthen the authority of parents--sort of the conservative social issue equivalent of an environmental impact statement.”

The proposed federalism order apparently has created little controversy within the Administration. But the Education Department has urged that Reagan emphasize that the department has a proper federal role.

In a memo to John Carley, general counsel of the Office of Management and Budget, who has been working on the draft of the order, Wendell Willkie II, general counsel of the Education Department, declared:

“We believe that the Administration will benefit if the order clearly recognizes that there is a legitimate, proper federal role in some areas and that this role will not be adversely affected by the order. For example, given our significant civil rights enforcement responsibilities, we recommend that the order state explicitly on its face that it will not be applied to effect a withdrawal from the legitimate responsibilities of the national government.”