We won! So What?

It seems the Republicans have won the presidency and control of the Senate and look to have narrowly* retained control of the house. This means Trump will be able to replace any retiring or expiring justices on the Supreme court with younger people over the wails of sorrow and despair from the left. It's something.

It looks right now that the Republicans have added 3 seats to their majority in the house, so no more impeachments. A republican win like this, in the past, meant, well, nothing. The traditional Republicans would pass continuing resolutions on the budget, and wobble on everything else, proving their position that the government couldn't actually do anything.

The possibility of real change exists, perhaps.

Government employees are traditionally immune from downsizing for any reason at all. Thus the government grows at about 6%/year weather we need it or not. OTOH, if a department or agency is simply erased, the employees in it will find themselves unemployed for no reason at all, and will be forced to find other employment on their own merits. Initially, many will simply move to another agency. If the erasure policy continues, however, this will become more difficult.

My question is what is required to eliminate a department or agency from the government? Ronald Reagan remarked that a government agency was the closest thing to immortality you would find in this world. Congressional approval is required before anything can be downsized or discarded. Congressional approval is directly proportionate to the amount of money the agency drops in a congressional district. The way around this is to point out that the monies sent to a district, were originally taken from that district, and skimmed about 20% before being sent back. Eliminate the agency, keep your money, and eliminate the baksheesh. Makes sense, sounds good, get re-elected, sure! Hopefully Elon Musks persuasive skills will be up to this job.

*Very narrowly. Getting good info on this is difficult at best.