WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Trump issued another executive order, aiming to have more oversight and power over regulatory agencies. Congress made these agencies independent, but the White House said these agencies need more accountability.
There are several agencies that congress established as independent, like the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which issues safety warnings and recalls; the Securities and Exchange Commission, which oversees markets; and the Federal Trade Commission, which protects the public from deceptive or unfair businesses practices.
In the executive order titled ‘Ensuring Accountability for all Agencies’ it would require independent agencies to submit their proposed regulations to the White House so that they can review them. It would also have the head of the Office of Management and Budget, which is part of the executive, to review the agencies’ spending to make sure it is in line with the President’s priorities.
Congress has set up these agencies as independent in order for their work is separate from whoever is in the White House. In Trump’s first few weeks, he has been wielding these executive orders to try to strengthen his control. Most recently, the administration has fired a handful of inspectors general who help provide independent checks and oversight on agencies.
Some Democratic Senators we spoke to, like Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D- MI) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY) said they haven’t seen this latest executive order but they are worried this could potentially be a power grab.
“We have a lot of oversight over our agencies,” said Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D- MI). “Typically comes from the congress based on the constitution but my question is: does he want oversight or does he want political control? And if it’s about real oversight, balanced, neutral important oversight then come have a conversation in congress and we can do it in a bipartisan way. When he announces things based on what he’s doing I have to assume that he wants more political control and that’s concerning for agencies that should be independent.”
We could expect this to be challenged in court.
