Conservatives have never been the "party of small government" that's just a saying they use. They love big government as long as it's the big government they like.

They are small government for any assistance programs, but big government for any police or military action.
They are small government for protecting your rights, but big government for spying on you.
They are small government for preparing for the future, but big government for keeping us in the past.

Been that way since at least Regan and the merger between Republicans and "Christians".