Argentina's new president signs order first day in office cutting number of ministries in half

Argentina's new President Javier Milei signed a decree on his first day in office to reorganize the government and cut down the number of ministries from 18 to nine, making good on his campaign promise to cut government spending.

The decree went into effect Monday morning, the Financial Times reported.

The ministries that are left include the Interior Ministry, the Foreign Relations, International Trade and Culture Ministry, the Defense Ministry, the Economic Ministry, the Infrastructure Ministry, the Justice Ministry, the Security Ministry, the Health Ministry and the Labor Ministry, according to the order.

Ministries being cut or consolidated include those dealing with social development, education and women, gender and diversity.

The move echos one of Milei's most memorable campaign moments when a viral video showed him tearing down sticky notes with the names of ministries he wanted to close as he shouted "afuera," Spanish for "out with you."

"Today we are ending a long and sad history of decadence and decline and we are beginning the journey to rebuilding our country," Milei told a cheering crowd after taking the presidential oath on Sunday. "The challenge we have in front of us is titanic but the true strength of a people can be measured in how it confronts the challenges when they present themselves."

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