Trump Signs Order To Expand White House Control Over Independent Agencies

 

02/19/2025 08:04 am

WASHINGTON—On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed a broad executive order placing independent agencies under White House control—a move that significantly expands his authority but is expected to face substantial legal challenges.

This action marks Trump’s latest effort to extend presidential power beyond the limits observed by previous administrations.

In the order Trump states:

“The United States Government spends too much money on programs, contracts, and grants that do not promote the interests of the American people.  For too long, taxpayers have subsidized ideological projects overseas and domestic organizations engaged in actions that undermine the national interest.  The American people have seen their tax dollars used to fund the passion projects of unelected bureaucrats rather than to advance the national interest.  The American people have a right to see how the Federal Government has wasted their hard-earned wages.

“I therefore direct the heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) to take all appropriate actions to make public, to the maximum extent permitted by law and as the heads of agencies deem appropriate to promote the policies of my Administration, the complete details of every terminated program, cancelled contract, terminated grant, or any other discontinued obligation of Federal funds.  Agencies shall ensure that such publication occurs in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the underlying contract, grant, or other award.

America’s Credit Unions pointed out, “Of utmost importance to credit unions, the order clarifies that the president by and through the attorney general is the final arbiter of legal interpretations of statutes agencies follow. This could impact interpretations of the Federal Credit Union Act, including preemption.”

ACU also said the order also calls for the director of the Office of Management and Budget on an ongoing basis to:

• Review independent regulatory agencies' obligations for consistency with the president's policies and priorities   
• Consult with independent regulatory agency chairmen and adjust such agencies' apportionments by activity, function, project, or object, as necessary and appropriate

Legal Battles Brewing

“Should this executive order survive legal scrutiny by the courts, it would change the rulemaking and interpretive legal process dramatically. While we are already living in a post-Chevron world where agencies are given little deference to how they interpret statutes, this would be a totally new era linking agency action to the sitting president,” said Carrie Hunt, chief advocacy officer at America’s Credit Unions.   

NCUA rules would still have to be agreed to by the full NCUA board, ACU noted.

The Defense Credit Union Council responded, saying it is monitoring the situation and analyzing the order’s impact on the NCUA and its member credit unions.

“We expect this issue will be heard by the courts and await their actions. Regardless, DCUC has long advocated for a strong and independent NCUA and will continue to do so moving forward,” said DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer Jason Stverak.