I'm not particularly hopeful about the possibility of retraction. However, I do feel like the right sort of pitch could grab Trump's attention. Like I said, he already got most of the USDA to quit once, by relocating them, so that's one effective idea he's willing to try.

Undisciplined

Politics_And_Law

How to Actually Drain the Swamp

I have zero hope or close to zero hope that the federal government will retract. But, if I were given the power I would literally shut down whole departments. I would probably be killed by some lone gunman though so it would fail as well.

Call me cynical. I'm a realist. 

The bright side is if I'm wrong I'll be happy about it.

I know this isn't answering your question. I just don't think its complicated. I think its just hard to do if not impossible. The state needs to not be able to pay people and it needs to fail under its own weight. I don't see that any time soon and Trump doesn't have the desire or ego to even try to do what Elon is supposedly going to do.