American Notes THE CABINET

Ronald Reagan, self-proclaimed enemy of Washington's bloated bureaucracy, came into office eight years ago vowing to dismantle Jimmy Carter's two additions to the Cabinet, the departments of Education and Energy. He has not only failed to scale back the Cabinet, but is also on the verge of expanding it. This week the President is expected to sign legislation elevating the Veterans Administration to a Cabinet-level department. That will bring the number of Cabinet departments to 14.

There was an election year timeliness to Reagan's turnaround and Congress's overwhelming support for the new Cabinet post. In their frenzy to appeal to 27.5 million U.S. veterans, the politicians seem unconcerned that the cost of transforming the V.A. into a Cabinet department will be $9.9 million. The biggest chunk of that cost will go to changing signs on the 532 V.A. buildings.