Donald Trump’s move appears to be a reenactment of the power vested in the President by the Constitution. These independent regulatory agencies, akin to the watchdogs of Wall Street, now have to report to the White House – it seems reminiscent of a bygone era of ‘power concentration’. The White House claims it’s to ‘ensure that all federal agencies are accountable to the American people,’ which sounds strikingly familiar. And the head of the Office of Management and Budget, his statement, ‘What we’re trying to do is identify the pockets of independence and seize them,’ doesn’t it sound like a clear declaration of intent to seize power? The Trump administration aims to fundamentally reshape the US government, including seizing the ‘power of the purse’ from Congress. Attempting to defy the Impoundment Act of 1974, which explicitly prohibits such practices. The ‘Doge’ department, an unofficial department led by the billionaire Elon Musk, seems to be facing legal repercussions for its ‘government efficiency’ measures.
Read from: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/19/trump-independent-regulators-sec-ftc