On Tuesday, Donald Trump made a significant move to escalate his influence over the executive branch with the issuance of a new directive aimed at harnessing independent regulatory bodies. This order, which is anticipated to encounter legal battles, mandates independent agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission to create policies for White House examination, liaise with the White House, and abide by the legal interpretations of the president and the attorney general. This maneuver attempts to prevent any discordant interpretations by having separate agencies, as stated by the executive directive.
While the order claims to ‘restrain’ these agencies and ‘reestablish a government that is responsive to the American populace,’ its actual implication lies in shaping a federal government increasingly accountable to Trump. Since returning to office last month, the president has acted rapidly to centralize power, which contradicts the fundamental principle of power separation defining the American system.
The manner in which the president considers an ‘effective’ government is not by eliminating wasteful processes in a democratic setup; rather, it leans towards a dictatorship where the president’s fickle policies are viewed as the aspirations of the public. His decisions have the final say. ‘He who saves his Country does not violate any Law’, Trump quoted on social media over the weekend, aligning with a sentiment that calls to mind French Emperor Napoleon, signifying a worrisome expansion of executive authority.
This expanded vision of the executive role potentially has the power to transform independent agencies under the White House to be directed by a staunch supporter of the ‘unitary executive theory.’ This fairly controversial legal perspective posits the president as the solitary custodian of the executive branch.
According to this theory, bureaucratic agencies have accumulated excessive power, overshadowing the presidential authority and hindering the government’s ‘responsiveness to the American populous.’ To rectify this imbalance, the adoption of what is often labeled as ‘radical constitutionalism’ is proposed. It provokes the question— will the judiciary validate this perspective?
Secondarily, would Trump respect their rulings if they were to reject his proposal? Recent developments suggest an audacious disregard for court decisions, with the president purportedly undermining judicial resolutions with apparent impunity.
To complicate matters, the Republican-led Congress has either chosen to ignore this startling shift of power or express approval. A spokesperson candidly suggested to the media last week that the judiciary ‘should take a step back.’ They defended these developments, stating they are in the best interest of the American citizens.
This unfolding scenario has the alarming potential to grant the president unprecedented powers. It becomes increasingly apparent that Trump seems less answerable to the judiciary, the Congress, and most importantly, the American people, creating an imbalance in the powers assigned to the branches of government.
Trump’s actions depict him as a leader pushing his boundaries further with each passing day, seemingly daring the operators of the official Washington to put a halt to his escalating power. The division of power, an essential aspect of democracy, seems to be teetering under his administration.
With each executive order, the concentration of power in the hands of the president grows, potentially steering the nation away from the fundamentals of democracy. The essence of democratic government is bred in the notion of collective responsibility, answerability, and power division — principles that are seemingly under threat.
Given the widened scope of presidential authority and the apparent disregard for traditional checks and balances, the equilibrium of power within the politically democratic structure of the United States is at risk. These developments have ignited widespread concern and multiple ethical, legal, and constitutional debates across the nation.
The burden now falls on the various arms of government to uphold the principles of democratic governance. It remains to be seen how these power dynamics will shift in the face of growing concerns about the concentration of power under the current administration.
As Donald Trump moves forward with his controversial approach to the presidency, it remains imperative that mechanisms of accountability and balance of power are maintained. Only then can the integrity of the American democratic system be preserved against the backdrop of an increasingly centralized presidential power.