President Trump’s budget office this week issued an unconstitutional order to indefinitely pause all government grants and loans that Trump’s political appointees deem inconsistent with the President’s priorities - “including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernment organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”
Russell Vaught is a leading advocate for the idea that the Constitution allows the President to “impound” spending that Congress has given final approval. The Senate will vote tomorrow on Vaught’s confirmation as director of Trump’s budget office. People who have Republican senators should contact them today to urge that they vote against Vaught’s confirmation. A vote for Vaught is a vote against the fiscal authority that our Constitution vests in Congress.
Most dictators come to power by winning elections and then asserting dictatorial powers. A number of Trump’s executive orders exceed his authority. A judge almost immediately put a hold on part of Monday’s OMB order, and the courts may rule against some of Trump’s other executive orders. But it’s hard to have faith that our current Supreme Court will restrain President Trump.
Trump spoke to House Republicans at their retreat Monday evening. The retreat was held at Trump’s luxury golf club in Miami, a venue that shouted Trump’s intention to use his office as an opportunity to increase his own wealth. His speech rallied the House Republicans to approve the tax cuts and funding for immigration enforcement that he wants. The President made it clear that he expects House members to follow Speaker Johnson, and that he expects Speaker Johnson to do what the President wants.
Trump suggested that he’d like to serve a third term. The Constitution clearly forbids that, but President Trump repeatedly asked the Speaker of the House whether there might be a way around this little problem.
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