Summary
Donald Trump signed an executive order expanding presidential control over independent agencies, including the FTC, FCC, and SEC.
The order enforces the “unitary executive theory,” which argues the president has sole authority over the executive branch. It grants Trump’s budget chief, Russell Vought, oversight of these agencies’ performance and budgets.
The move is expected to face legal challenges, as past presidents have largely respected agency independence.
Trump defended the order, stating, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.”
It’s terrifying to think that there’s still nearly 4 years left of this.
Oh don’t worry. It won’t end in 4 years.
Unitary Executive Theory is a throwback to the Bush Jr Era (and if you dig deep enough you’ll find it back to Truman/Eisenhower/Nixon). Its a relic of the Cold War, when Americans were poisoned to the idea of popular government by the horrifying threat of Soviet infiltration.
You consolidate power in the executive branch - under guys like Hoover and Dulles and McNamara - so they can do the grisly work of squashing the Tankies at home and abroad without squeamish liberals in Congress or the courts getting in the way. Then we can have our liberty back, right after we have guaranteed our domestic security and our international sovereignty. Right after we’re confident our people will make the Right Choices at the ballot box.
This isn’t something that will end in 4 years because its something that has been ongoing for the last 80.
People forget about Bremer, the Elon Musk of Iraq.