...People tend to want to justify their existences and may not go quietly into the good night.
“He should bring in outside agency to evaluate and make the cuts. Else, I don’t see this reduction happening.”
It wouldn’t be the first time that approach was taken. It was the classic technique whenever the government wanted to lose military bases.
In this case, I’m not sure that’s needed. If department heads don’t meet their objectives, maybe they should be replaced or eliminated.
No way! That's just more costly bureaucracy. He should instead, order them ALL cut, until the agency can demonstrate conclusively that they are necessary, and cost effective.