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.”
That’s why they call these oversite positions “quasi-judicial”. Congress has explicit power to create judicial bodies not specified in the Constitution. Of course, who knows what this Supreme Court will do with the plain text.
What a great idea. They have always talked about about starving the beast, now they can actually do it.