{"id":108365,"date":"2025-02-18T19:04:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citizen.org\/?post_type=news&p=108365"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:04:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:04:31","slug":"trump-eo-illegally-limits-independent-agencies-power","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.citizen.org\/news\/trump-eo-illegally-limits-independent-agencies-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s Executive Order Aims to Illegally Undermine Federal Independent Agencies, Shield Big Corporations from Accountability"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON \u2014 President Donald Trump today signed an executive order (EO) aimed at curtailing the powers of independent agencies, undermining the powers granted them through legislation. According to the White House <\/span>fact shee<\/span><\/a>t on Trump\u2019s order, executive agencies will be required to submit any draft regulations to the White House for review. In response, <\/span>Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen,<\/b> issued the following statement:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTrump\u2019s illegal executive order on independent agencies aims to shield corporations from accountability and centralize more power with Trump and his minions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a profoundly dangerous idea for the nation\u2019s health, safety, environment and economy \u2013 and for our democracy. Congress made independent agencies independent of the White House for good reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe EO directs that all independent agencies shall subordinate themselves to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Trump\u2019s OMB hatchet man, Russ Vought. Under the EO, independent agencies\u2019 rules would be approved by OMB and Vought, their funding would be determined by OMB and Vought, and they would be required to follow White House policy dictates.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn short, independent agencies would become dependent \u2013 dependent on the whims of Trump, Vought and their corporate buddies. This would be a disaster for America.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Federal Election Commission, for example, is independent of presidential control so that it can serve its election integrity mission without partisan favor. For all the FEC\u2019s many faults, it would be far worse under the thumb of Trump and his OMB hatchet man, Russ Vought.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are charged with defending consumer and investor rights and protecting market integrity. Their independence is designed to enable them to perform these duties without undue political pressure from giant corporations, the super rich and the super-connected. Trump\u2019s EO would dissolve that independence and put the agencies under Trump\u2019s thumb, ensuring they turn a blind eye to wrongdoing by favored corporations and leave consumers and investors out to dry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot incidentally, both the FTC and SEC have ongoing investigations or enforcement actions against companies owned by Elon Musk.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmericans should understand exactly what this is: A giant gift to the corporate class and a Trumpian power grab.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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