By Brian Schwartz and Nick Timiraos
WASHINGTON—President Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday that seeks to give his political appointees far-reaching control over federal agencies that for decades have operated independently of White House influence.
The order requires that independent agencies submit major regulations to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review. The budget office is run by budget hawk Russell Vought, a Trump ally.
Under the order, Vought would write “performance standards and management objectives” for the heads of independent agencies and provide updates to Trump about whether the agency heads are meeting those requirements. Vought also would review and adjust independent agencies’ budgets. Those adjustments “may prohibit independent regulatory agencies from expending appropriations on particular activities, functions, projects, or objects,” the order says.
In addition, the order requires that independent agencies hire a White House liaison, who would act as a conduit with Trump’s team. It asserts that the president and attorney general’s legal interpretations are binding on all executive-branch employees, who can’t advance contrary legal interpretations without authorization.
“For the Federal Government to be truly accountable to the American people, officials who wield vast executive power must be supervised and controlled by the people’s elected President,” the order says.
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