Law be damned, Trump asserts unilateral control over executive branch, federal service (2 Viewers)

[superchuck500]

Following the Project 2025 playbook, in the last week, Trump and his newly installed loyalists have moved to (1) dismiss federal officials deemed unreliable to do his bidding (including 17 inspectors general) - many of which have protections from arbitrary dismissal, (2) freeze all science and public health activity until he can wrest full control, (3) freeze all federal assistance and grant activity deemed inconsistent with Trump's agenda, and (4) moved to terminate all federal employee telework and DEI programs.

The problem is much of this is controlled by federal law and not subject to sudden and complete change by the president through executive order. Most notably is the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 that simply codifies what is the constitutional allocation of resources where Congress appropriates money to the executive branch for a specific purpose, the executive branch must carry out that statutory purpose. This is indeed a constitutional crisis and even if Congress abdicates to Trump by acquiescing, the courts must still apply the law - or rule it unconstitutional.

And meanwhile the architect of much of this unlawful action is Russell Vought, Trump’s OMB nominee who the Senate appears ready to confirm.

120. The Impoundment Crisis of 2025

The Trump administration's Monday spending freeze is likely to provoke a crisis over the constitutionality of "impoundment"—one that the justices could well have to resolve *very* soon.

www.stevevladeck.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

The GOP has killed Democracy in broad daylight and its voters will rejoice...for a little while.

 

[Sendai]

They basically did it without even doing it. As Kagan points out, you don’t overturn established stare decisis in a shadow docket ruling.

I expect they will cobble a protection for the Federal Reserve based on the power of the commerce clause and the power to coin money.

 

[superchuck500]

I expect they will cobble a protection for the Federal Reserve based on the power of the commerce clause and the power to coin money.

They’re already suggesting a basis (not those things) - but not particularly persuasive.

 

[Sendai]

They’re already suggesting a basis (not those things) - but not particularly persuasive.

Well, they’re gonna have to cobble something.

 

[coldseat]

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This case will bring the right-wing legal world closer than it ever could have imagined to a unitary executive, a previously unconceivably muscular presidency where the occupant of the Oval Office can reshape the entire executive branch in his image. Coupled with the Trump administration’s annihilation of the civil service, the executive branch will become something much closer to a fiefdom, an extension of presidential power with few institutional guardrails. This was a guiding light of Project 2025, a plan realized in the aftermath of the first administration, when civil servants and non-toadies in the executive branch proved frustrating obstacles to Trump’s vision.
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All I'm saying is that since the Supreme Court is allowing this to stand, the next Democratic president better go on a rampage to expel every MAGA sympathizer from government. Tit for tat bitches! Then look to do the same with the judiciary. As well as bring criminal charges against every MAGA administrator, MAGA state and MAGA organization they can. And also overturn every MAGA law that was passed. They want a war, lets go to forking war. I don't want any of this "let's work together" bullshirt. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck the Republicans!!!!!

 

[DaveXA]

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This case will bring the right-wing legal world closer than it ever could have imagined to a unitary executive, a previously unconceivably muscular presidency where the occupant of the Oval Office can reshape the entire executive branch in his image. Coupled with the Trump administration’s annihilation of the civil service, the executive branch will become something much closer to a fiefdom, an extension of presidential power with few institutional guardrails. This was a guiding light of Project 2025, a plan realized in the aftermath of the first administration, when civil servants and non-toadies in the executive branch proved frustrating obstacles to Trump’s vision.
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All I'm saying is that since the Supreme Court is allowing this to stand, the next Democratic president better go on a rampage to expel every MAGA sympathizer from government. Tit for tat bitches! Then look to do the same with the judiciary. As well as bring criminal charges against every MAGA administrator, MAGA state and MAGA organization they can. And also overturn every MAGA law that was passed. They want a war, lets go to forking war. I don't want any of this "let's work together" bullshirt. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck the Republicans!!!!!

Pretty much where we're at now. They drove us to this point. What's good for the goose and all that.

 

[Optimus Prime]

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This case will bring the right-wing legal world closer than it ever could have imagined to a unitary executive, a previously unconceivably muscular presidency where the occupant of the Oval Office can reshape the entire executive branch in his image. Coupled with the Trump administration’s annihilation of the civil service, the executive branch will become something much closer to a fiefdom, an extension of presidential power with few institutional guardrails. This was a guiding light of Project 2025, a plan realized in the aftermath of the first administration, when civil servants and non-toadies in the executive branch proved frustrating obstacles to Trump’s vision.
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All I'm saying is that since the Supreme Court is allowing this to stand, the next Democratic president better go on a rampage to expel every MAGA sympathizer from government. Tit for tat bitches! Then look to do the same with the judiciary. As well as bring criminal charges against every MAGA administrator, MAGA state and MAGA organization they can. And also overturn every MAGA law that was passed. They want a war, lets go to forking war. I don't want any of this "let's work together" bullshirt. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck the Republicans!!!!!

We'll see if the Dems have the will, nerve and stomach for a full out war

 

[DaveXA]

We'll see if the Dems have the will, nerve and stomach for a full out war

MAGA definitely does. They've been hoping for it for a while now.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Amid “first buddy” Elon Musk’s ongoing public war against Media Matters for America, the Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into the liberal media watchdog over what it says could be illegal collusion with advertisers.

Essentially piggybacking on Musk’s lawsuits against Media Matters over the group’s research into hateful and antisemitic content on the mega-billionaire’s social media platform X, the FTC sent a letter to the organization requiring it to share communications and documents related to its research, as well as copies of its budgets.

“This demand is issued pursuant to Section 20 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 57b-1, in the course of an investigation to determine whether there is, has been, or may be a violation of any laws administered by the Federal Trade Commission by conduct, activities, or proposed action as described in Item 3,” the letter states.

Media Matters president Angelo Carusone said the formal government probe was an escalation of President Donald Trump’s efforts to punish his critics, which have resulted in executive orders against law firms, investigations into Democratic-aligned groups, and threats against media outlets.

“The Trump administration has been defined by naming right-wing media figures to key posts and abusing the power of the federal government to bully political opponents and silence critics,” Carusone said in a statement.

“It’s clear that’s exactly what’s happening here, given Media Matters’ history of holding those same figures to account. These threats won’t work; we remain steadfast to our mission,” he added.

The FTC declined to comment.

Earlier this spring, the president dismissed the last two remaining Democrats on the FTC, calling into question the commission’s independence. While the commission is supposed to be made up of five commissioners who serve seven-year terms, with no more than three from any political party, the FTC currently has just three members – all Republican.………

Elon Musk’s vendetta against Media Matters morphs into Trump administration probe

‘It’s clear that’s exactly what’s happening here, given Media Matters’ history of holding those same figures to account,’ Media Matters president Angelo Carusone said in reaction to the probe

www.independent.co.uk