RESTORING DEMOCRACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT:
President Donald J. Trump has taken a significant step towards ensuring that all federal agencies are accountable to the American people, as mandated by the Constitution, with the signing of an Executive Order. The key points of this Executive Order are:
- The Executive Order emphasizes that Article II of the U.S. Constitution grants all executive power to the President, making all executive branch officials and employees subject to his supervision.
- As a result of this power vested in the President, all agencies are required to: (1) submit draft regulations for review by the White House, with no exceptions for so-called independent agencies, except for the monetary policy functions of the Federal Reserve; and (2) consult with the White House on their priorities and strategic plans, with the White House setting their performance standards.
- The Office of Management and Budget will adjust apportionments for so-called independent agencies to ensure responsible spending of tax dollars.
- The President and the Attorney General, under the President’s supervision and control, will provide interpretations of the law for the executive branch, preventing conflicting interpretations by separate agencies.
REINING IN INDEPENDENT AGENCIES:
Independent agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have wielded significant power over the American people without oversight from the President. Key points include:
- These agencies have issued rules and regulations that have financial implications and address controversial policy matters without democratic oversight.
- They have made decisions on spending tax dollars and setting priorities without consulting the President, while also establishing their own performance standards.
- With the new Executive Order, these agencies will no longer be able to impose rules on the American people without accountability.
ENSURING A GOVERNMENT THAT ANSWERS TO THE PEOPLE:
This Executive Order reflects President Trump’s commitment to restoring constitutional governance and accountability throughout the executive branch. Key points of this order include:
- Executive power without responsibility goes against the principles of the Republic. The United States was founded on the belief that the government should be accountable to the people, with a single President entrusted with the executive power and the responsibility to ensure that laws are faithfully executed.
- With this order, voters and the President now have the ability to hold all Federal agencies accountable for their decisions, aligning with the constitutional requirement for governmental accountability.
