The Bush administration's systematic dismantling of the public's protections could soon accelerate as Republican lawmakers prepare legislation that would permit the unrestrained restructuring of the entire federal government through results commissions and fast-track reorganization authority. As we reported earlier, House Government Reform chair Tom Davis has vowed that a top priority for this Congress will be giving the White House the power to fast-track through Congress recommendations for restructuring the federal government. Now Inside EPA is reporting that Davis's office is drafting legislation to grant the White House power to develop restructuring plans that would be fast-tracked through Congress without the possibility of amendment. A source has told Inside EPA that Davis is awaiting the White House's imminent proposals for results and sunset commissions, which may include some version of fast-track reorganization authority. Meanwhile, other lawmakers are proceeding with their own versions of commissions to reorganize government. As we reported earlier this month, one senator, probably Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), slipped into the budget resolution a "sense of the Senate" provision endorsing the concept of a results commission. Brownback is reportedly coordinating with Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) to develop a new proposal that combines elements of each member's proposals in past Congresses for results and sunset commissions respectively. Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) has jumped on the bandwagon by reintroducing the Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies Act, a version of the results commission concept. The CARFA Act would link performance data, such as the simplistic reviews currently carried out in the Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) assessments, with recommendations to consolidate or eliminate federal agencies. (See more about the CARFA Act.) In addition to his bill for unconstrained authority to eliminate and restructure government agencies, Tiahrt has been busy in the last couple of weeks proposing several amendments to major appropriations bills for federal agencies to limit their ability to develop new protections of the public interest. His most recent effort was the appropriations bill for soldiers and veterans. Read more in our blog REG•WATCH. These proposals are all supported by good government rhetoric and appear initially to be technical proposals about the structure rather than the substance of government. The problem is that structural overhauls can be a technical cover hiding major substantive changes that will adversely affect the public interest. The most recent structural change proposed by the White House -- the controversial proposal to eliminate the Community Development Block Grant as we know it and combine it with other community development programs -- is a case in point. When combined in the proposed new "Strengthening America's Communities Grant Program," the old programs would have lost not only their distinctive character but also much of their funding: a 34 percent reduction, without adjusting for inflation. Subtle clues in the fiscal year 2006 budget submission -- referring to "focuse[d] resources" and a "targeted, results-oriented approach" -- indicated the White House also intended to change the direction and purpose of the original community development programs. Creating the possibility of wholesale reorganization of the federal government is a particularly troubling idea given this administration's hostility to protections of the public health, environment, safety and public welfare. As we have documented elsewhere, the defining characteristic of the Bush administration to date is a special interest takeover of the federal government that is systematically dismantling public protections. While dismantling existing protections, the administration has also been building a record of allowing unmet needs to fester, in a larger pattern of failure to serve the public. Wide-ranging powers to reorganize and eliminate government programs may prove disastrous for the public health, safety, civil rights, environment and other public interest concerns.