President Trump’s Executive Order Extends Control Over Independent Agencies

Well, folks, President Donald Trump keeps winning. What else is new?

He just signed an executive order pulling agencies like the SEC, FTC, and FCC closer into the White House fold.

Time to keep a close eye on them.

Now, these agencies have to run their big plans and budgets past the Office of Management and Budget, ensuring there’s no stray agendas.

And just to keep things cozy, each agency gets its very own White House liaison.

Keep them on a short leash, that’s what I say.

Liberal critics are up in arms, of course.

They’re claiming this move puts a chokehold on these agencies ability to commit fraud, I mean, to help the people.

Trump signs executive order giving himself more power over independent federal agencies https://t.co/ernUrZCtwR

— The Independent (@Independent) February 19, 2025

AP News reports:

President Donald Trump is moving to give the White House direct control of independent federal regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission.

The executive order that Trump signed Tuesday gives the president more power to shape the oversight of the financial system and lay out criteria for transportation safety, basic consumer protections and wireless, broadcast, satellite and broadband communications.

It is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to assert greater authority over the government, possibly limiting the spending of congressionally approved funds in ways that could set up lawsuits and lead courts to weigh in.

Past administrations saw public benefit in having regulators that could operate in the long-term interests of the country without the daily machinations of politics. Presidents could exercise informal control by whom they appointed to lead the agencies without necessarily requiring those agencies to submit strategic plans to the White House and lose access to funding initiatives as the order lays out.

But the Trump White House maintains that independent regulators could undermine the president’s agenda and the will of the voting public.

The liberal media will have a field day with this. “See! He’s taking too much power!”

Trump has signed an executive order asserting that the “President and the Attorney General will interpret the law for the executive branch” while granting the president and the executive branch oversight over independent agencies.

Story: https://t.co/n1RZbz28a7 pic.twitter.com/fzXHuN2wmw

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) February 19, 2025

It may not include the Federal Reserve.

But make no mistake, that too will be taken over and defeated.

We WILL have control over our own money supply once again. It’s only been 100+ years since that’s happened.

Better late than never though.

Trump signed an executive order designed to strengthen White House control over quasi-independent regulatory agencies including the FTC, SEC, and FCC. The order said it wouldn't include the Federal Reserve's handling of monetary policy https://t.co/8ORGVHCbyJ

— Nick Timiraos (@NickTimiraos) February 19, 2025