Republican presidential nominee Ron DeSantis said Wednesday in an interview with Fox News that he would do away with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if he becomes the next director.

Fox News anchor Martha McCallum asked Mr. DeSantis if he would abolish certain federal agencies if he became president.

“Are you in favor of removing any agency? I know conservatives have discussed closing the Department of Education in the past, would you do that?” McCollum asked. (Related: DeSantis pledges to fund diversity, equity and inclusion at public universities)

BREAKING: Ron DeSantis was asked if he was in favor of abolishing federal agencies.

He wants to abolish the Departments of Education, Commerce, Energy and the Internal Revenue Service. pic.twitter.com/xwdA0GiJ9Y

— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) June 28, 2023

DeSantis said he plans to lay off many agencies.

“We’ll do education, commerce, energy, and the IRS,” DeSantis replied.

DeSantis added that if he can’t get congressional consent to eliminate these institutions, he will use them to combat “awakened ideologies” within US institutions.

“But what I am going to do, Martha, is to be prepared if Congress doesn’t go that far. We intend to push back against the leftism that has crept into the world,” DeSantis added.

DeSantis also publicly shared his opinion view He spoke about the IRS in an interview with radio host Dana Loesch last month.

Mr. Roesch asked Mr. DeSantis if he would “sign” a bill to stop funding the IRS when it arrived at his desk. DeSantis said yes, adding that he believed the IRS was a “corrupt organization.”