Trump keeps getting stronger.
President Donald Trump has taken decisive steps to reshape the federal government with a bold new executive order that places independent agencies under White House oversight. This move expands his presidential authority and continues his ongoing effort to reduce the size and scope of government—a key aspect of his administration’s agenda.
Since taking office, Trump has relentlessly worked to reform the federal bureaucracy. His administration has already seen the dismissal of hundreds of civil servants and the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which focuses on reducing government waste and improving efficiency. The latest executive order further pushes this vision by requiring independent agencies to work closely with the White House, particularly with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and its director, Russell Vought. These agencies will now be required to appoint White House liaisons to regularly consult on policies and priorities, ensuring that these agencies align more closely with the president’s objectives.
This order strengthens the president’s ability to hold independent agencies accountable for their performance and efficiency. It also gives the OMB greater influence over agency budgets and mandates that these budgets reflect the administration’s priorities. According to the White House, the goal is to restore accountability and ensure that agencies are more responsive to the needs of the American people.
The president’s critics, however, argue that his efforts go too far. Many view this as an overreach of executive power, with some legal scholars pointing to concerns about the constitutionality of reducing the independence of these agencies. Traditionally, independent agencies have been shielded from direct political influence to ensure they can function without partisan interference. However, Trump’s executive order challenges this tradition, and his use of “unitary executive theory” asserts that the president holds ultimate authority over the executive branch, including independent agencies.
Trump’s critics claim this undermines the checks and balances central to the U.S. political system. They argue that reducing the independence of agencies like the FCC, FTC, and SEC could lead to increased political influence and undermine their ability to make impartial decisions on complex issues. Supporters of the president, on the other hand, contend that this move is necessary to eliminate inefficiencies and ensure that the executive branch operates more effectively.
In addition to overseeing independent agencies, Trump has also undertaken a broad campaign to reduce the federal workforce. He has already removed several high-level agency officials and has been involved in the process of cutting probationary workers across multiple government departments. One of his more controversial moves has been the reclassification of thousands of federal employees as political hires, making it easier to remove them from their positions. This includes reviving “Schedule F,” a policy from his first term aimed at reducing civil service protections.
While the White House defends these actions as steps to restore constitutional governance, the administration faces significant opposition. Legal challenges are expected to intensify as critics push back against what they see as a dangerous power grab that weakens democratic safeguards and accountability. As Trump continues to dismantle parts of the federal bureaucracy, his presidency is likely to be marked by this ongoing struggle to balance executive authority with the principles of American democracy.