Unlock the White House Watch watch newsletter for free
Your guide on what the US elections of 2024 mean for Washington and Le Monde
Donald Trump must take more control of independent federal agencies – including major financial surveillance dogs – in the US president’s last decision to tighten his grip on government institutions.
The president on Tuesday signed an executive decree on Tuesday according to which “the reins in independent agencies”, ordering them to submit a regulatory project for examination, the White House said in a statement.
Trump will also establish “performance standards” for agencies, which must “consult” the White House on “their priorities and their strategic plans”.
The order comes as the president seeks to extend the power of the government’s executive power, with attempts to close regulators whose training is devoted in federal laws, while hitting the public service with budget cuts and dismissals.
According to the declaration of the White House, the American Constitution “constitutes all the executive power of the president, which means that all those responsible for the branch and the employees are subject to its supervision”.
“Now they will no longer impose rules on the American people without supervision or responsibility,” said the White House.
The agencies targeted by the order include the Securities and Exchange Commission, the best Wall Street watchdog; The Federal Trade Commission, the antitrust regulator; As well as the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates television, Internet services and radio in the United States.
The functions of monetary policy of the Federal Reserve are exempt from the order, according to the White House, but the role of supervision of the Central Bank has been targeted.
Critics argue that the order is illegal and flies the main function of the congress to grant the power of regulators via legislation.
“This is a deeply dangerous idea for health, security, the environment and the economy of the country – and for our democracy,” said Robert Weissman, co -president of Public Citizen, a defense group for consumer consumers . “The congress has made independent agencies independent of the White House for a good reason,” he added.
He added that the “illegal” order “aims to protect companies from responsibility and centralize more power with Trump and his servants”.
Former President Joe Biden has appointed progressive regulators to direct agencies, strengthening regulations and application.
The Fed and the SEC refused to comment; The FTC and the FCC did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
The management and budget office “adjusts” the funding allowances to federal agencies “to ensure that taxes are spent wisely”, according to the White House press release.
He added that Trump and the US prosecutor Pam Bondi “would interpret the law of the executive branch, instead of adopting conflictual interpretations”, without further elaborating.
The declaration seems to give President Latitude to undermine the independence of agencies while concentrating the power to establish the law in the presidency.
“This is the opening salvo, if you want,” said Ed al-Hussainy, evaluation analyst of Columbia Threadneedle Investments. “We know what the executive power wants to do here: it is to bring the institutions to its orbit, it is in conflict with the mandate established by the Congress, and there are a lot of room open for disputes on this subject. »»
Legal challenges against the ordinance are widely expected. According to a note from Ian Katz, analyst of financial policies at the Capital Alpha Partners research firm, the “White House and Conservatives are not only expecting, but want, the legal challenges of the decree”.
“They would like a decision of the Supreme Court which more solidifies the authority of executive branches on agencies,” added Katz.
Additional report by James Politi and Harriet Clarfelt
