The Obama administration has formally asked Congress for the authority to reorganize and consolidate federal government agencies, the White House announced Thursday.
The administration previously announced it wanted to consolidate six federal trade and commerce agencies in mid-January, a merger it said would save taxpayers roughly $3 billion.
The White House statement said the Reforming and Consolidating Government Act of 2012 requires that any reorganization plan must save money or reduce the size of government.
If passed, the presidentâs proposal would be guaranteed an up-or-down vote from Congress within 90 days.
The last president to hold re-organizational power was Ronald Reagan in 1984.