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US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order bringing independent agencies closer to presidential control and supervision. All executive departments have been asked to prepare draft regulations suggesting ways to get independent US agencies under the presidential umbrella. The White House will review these drafts later.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order ensuring that all federal agencies are accountable to the American people, as required by the Constitution,” the order said, adding that Article II of the US Constitution stipulates that all executive branches of are subject to the President’s supervision.
Which depts will be affected?
The directive is anticipated to impact various independent agencies, such as the Federal Election Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission.
These agencies are generally overseen by bipartisan boards, with members appointed by the president and approved by the Senate for fixed terms. Their removal is typically limited to cases of misconduct.
‘Independent agencies exercise enormous power’
The White House said that the “so-called independent agencies” have been exercising “enormous” power without presidential oversight.
“These agencies issue rules and regulations that cost billions of dollars and implicate some of the most controversial policy matters, and they do so without the review of the democratically elected President,” the executive order further said.
Independent agencies like the FTC, FCC and SEC set priorities and do work on the American taxpayer’s dime without consulting with the President. “Now they will no longer impose rules on the American people without oversight or accountability,” it added.
How will it affect agencies?
In an additional challenge to congressional power, the directive would prohibit independent agencies from adopting legal stances that differ from those of the president or Attorney General Pam Bondi.
This could clash with the independence Congress has granted to agencies like the FTC, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board, allowing them to assert legal positions in matters they regulate.
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