This administration is promoting a constitutional theory called the "Unitary Executive" theory in several cases that have, or will soon be, decided by the Supreme Court. The theory proposes that since the Constitution requires that "Laws be faithfully executed," the president should have complete control over the Executive Branch.
Article 2, Section 2 of our Constitution defines the powers of the Executive Branch as vested in the President. Two important phrases are at the center of the debate: Article 2, Section 2
"He shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate…, and all other Officers of the United States"
And
"but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments."
It is clear to most Constitutional scholars that the text clearly vests the power to appoint inferior officers to the Congress, unless otherwise, by Law, granted to the President.
Trump v. Slaughter — Trump is petitioning that Humphrey's Executor v. United States, upheld in court since 1935, be overturned. About the case
The first independent agency was formed in 1887 with the establishment of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). Before that time the railroad monopoly sucked the profit from any industry requiring transportation, such as coal and farm products. The wealth and power of railroad companies politically influenced regulations to the detriment of all other business concerns.
Subsequently, many other independent agencies were established with the singular purpose of isolating agencies from short-term political influence.
If Humphrey's Executor v. United States were to be overturned, the result would be a catastrophic return to the disruptive "spoils system" of political patronage, favoritism, and lobbying influence (that is bad enough the way it is). If ruled in Trump's favor, the President would be granted full executive power over independent agencies established by Law and upheld in Supreme Court cases since 1935. About the case
The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 was passed to change the disruptive "spoils system" of political patronage into a professional, merit-based civil service. The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 created the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which further refined the system.
The President has fired civil service employees, which has resulted in the AFGE v. Trump lawsuit and others pending in lower courts. If ruled in Trump's favor, the President would be granted full executive power over the Civil Service, with devastating effects.
Professionals in our agencies would be subject to job loss for presenting data and evidence that may run counter to the political desires of the President. We could easily be blinded to critical information. This has already been attempted by this administration, by removing or obscuring scientific data about climate and various health issues.
It is our Civil Service that generates government information that we Americans, and indeed the world, depend upon. These people are civil servants, NOT politicians. They are the scientists, economists, health specialists, and other experts in their fields, and they are regular citizens serving their country. This is now at risk. About the case
Cases contesting Trump's Executive Orders on impoundments — DOE v. California, NIH v. APHA, AIDS Vaccine Advocacy, and many others. Trump has issued many Executive Orders impounding funds appropriated by Congress and written into Law.
There is a procedure for the President to request "rescission" (i.e., cancellation) of expenditures. This has not been done.
If ruled in Trump's favor, the President would be granted full executive power to spend, or not spend, appropriations passed by Congress. These cases would shift the power of the purse from Congress to the President. About the case
These orders are technically within the power of the Executive branch, but if the independence of the SEC is removed, these orders open the gates for dark money to flow into our government. World Liberty Financial ($WLFI), $TRUMP coin, $MELANIA coin, and others have already netted the Trump family billions of dollars in dark money. We simply do not know, at this time, the extent of this fraud. About the risk
A.I. may well be the most significant technological advance in history. It is a tool that has the potential to greatly enhance human well-being, or to oppress us. These Executive Orders, at least for now, remove all regulations from the A.I. industry. Coupled with the threat of extended executive powers over regulatory agencies, and you have the formula for disaster.
Trump's Executive Order using the National Emergencies Act (NEA) of 1976, to designate antifa as a terrorist organization — antifa is a philosophy that opposes a fascist form of government, period. Most Americans are antifa.
This designation empowers the President, as Commander in Chief of the military, to suppress protests under the Rules of War within our borders. The Executive Order
Trump's "Fact Sheet," using the National Emergencies Act (NEA) of 1976, designates drug smugglers as terrorists. Drug smugglers are criminals subject to the Rule of Law, not combatants subject to the Rules of War, period. The Fact Sheet
Trump's Executive Order using the National Emergencies Act (NEA) of 1976, to designate fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). This order, if implemented, would shift drug enforcement from civilian control to the military and the rules of war. The Executive Order
Trump's claim that every one of the boat bombings saves 25,000 lives is absurd on its face. To date (12-18-25), 28 boats have been bombed, "saving" 700,000 lives by that math. Fewer than 120,000 people die from drug and alcohol overdose each year.
Most fentanyl enters this country through border crossings. The real reason for these orders is Venezuelan oil, which Trump openly claims is "our" oil.
Trump tweets and public comments inciting violence — when responsible legislators reminded members of the military that they are subject to prosecution for obeying illegal orders, Trump's response was:
“Seditious behavior,”
Calling for them to “be arrested and put on trial”
And that it could be “punishable by death.”
“HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD,”
Trump has openly encouraged political gerrymandering. This must stop on both sides. With gerrymandering, the politicians in the majority select the electorate, NOT the electorate selecting politicians.
Trump still claims that he won in 2020, despite losing every court case at state and federal levels for five years. His administration and the Republican party at state levels have been appointing these election deniers to positions in our government and in our electoral system.
With full power over independent agencies such as the FCC and the FEC, this and future presidents would control the media and our electoral system.
With the power to impound or transfer appropriations made by Congress, this and future presidents would control the purse strings and our economy.
With the power to use the National Emergencies Act without the consent of Congress (as he has done), this and future presidents would merge civilian policing with the military.
These are the very powers that dictators like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping possess.
The Executive Branch
"preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States"
"he shall take care that the Laws be faithfully executed"
"The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States"
Article 2, Section 2 is the part being debated:
"He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the heads of Departments." Article 2, Section 2
The Legislative Branch
"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises" Article 1, Section 8
The Judicial Branch
"The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."
"The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution" Article 3, Section 2
Our Founding Fathers recognized that the Executive branch would have overwhelming power over the other branches if not limited by Law, hence "Congress may by Law vest" appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
In other words, this is how and why our Congress established independent agencies with specific mandates to regulate, to legislate, and to judge, without the expedient, political motives of a president.
Every American, whether liberal or conservative, should be panicked about recent court cases and actions by the Trump administration.
If given the powers of a Unitary Executive, we are all at risk. So far, our courts have blocked his attempts to use this power, but the Supreme Court, loaded with his appointments, seems poised to grant him this power.
A bombastic statement that can't possibly be true. But it is true, and this paper makes the case that without a forceful and immediate response, there will be no coming back.
We have been intentionally distracted by a constant barrage of controversy over issues that, while some are important, most have simply been used to turn our eyes away from the background efforts to subvert our republic.
Please prove me wrong. I plead for ANY evidence that these claims are false. I promise that updates will be made based on verifiable data.
These are issues that every American patriot must focus on: our Civil Service system's return to political spoils, the reality that climate change is not a hoax, the loss of function in important agencies and programs, and this administration's conduct regarding the boat bombings described above — all covered in the sections that follow.
Project 2025, "Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise" — read it. Link to Project 2025 text
Despite denials by the administration, Project 2025 "Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise" has been followed closely.
It is a document that promotes the Conservative philosophy. On issues such as abortion, climate change, and social issues, the liberal side would disagree vociferously. But this is how the American system works. Neither side has all of the answers as to how these issues should be dealt with.
To this point, in the Project 2025 document, we see a classic example of the American Experiment; it is healthy and vibrant.
There are flat-out lies and many misrepresentations of fact in the document. If, however, this document were followed to the letter, right-leaning conservatives would be satisfied, and the rest of us would at least survive to fight another day (barely).
From the Project 2025 document landing page:
Replace merit-based civil service workers with loyal appointees. The Political Civil Service
Abolish the Department of Education and cut federal education funding. The Demise of the Education Department
Reduce corporate taxes and implement a flat income tax. CBO flat tax estimates (note table 1), flat tax pitfalls (note figure 2)
Cut Medicare and Medicaid funding. Not very popular (note figure 1), could be improved, however
Roll back environmental regulations to favor fossil fuels. IPCC paper, Climate Change Facts
Implement stricter immigration policies, including mass deportations.
Weaken labor unions and worker protections. The good and bad of labor unions, The good and bad of OSHA
Allow minors to work in hazardous jobs without parental consent. (Ed. To bring back sweat shops and unsafe working conditions.) The history of child labor, part 1, part 2, a rant on child labor (WARNING: explicit content)
As bad as that is, the Trump administration has done, or is attempting to do, much worse.
The resignations and a firing have left the FEC without the quorum required by law to conduct business. With the mid-terms approaching, we are now blinded as to who is buying the election. These positions remain empty as of November 2025.
Sean Cooksey (R) resigned January 2025
Ellen Weintraub (D) was fired by Trump February 6, 2025 (she disputes legality)
Allen Dickerson (R) resigned effective April 30, 2025
James E. "Trey" Trainor III (R) resigned effective October 4, 2025
The FEC is closed, the FEC has other problems
In 2023, Congress appropriated $78.9 billion in additional mandatory funding to the IRS, with approximately $45.6 billion designated for enforcement specifically. These targeted tax filings involve complicated shell companies, off-shore investments, and other financial instruments that require intense investigation to clarify and act upon. Approximately $40+ billion (92% of the enforcement account) has been slashed.
These funds have been cut, allowing fraudulent filings to continue, delighting our wealthy and powerful overlords. This was done under the rubric of "protecting the US taxpayer from IRS abuse," which is patently false.
Nearly 7,000 IRS employees have been fired, and plans are in the works to close more than 110 Taxpayer Assistance Centers.
The CBO estimates that the cuts will result in $65.8 billion in lost revenue over ten years, and the tax gap (owed but unpaid) will explode to about $7 trillion over the next ten years. The CBO estimates that 70% of the tax gap is from the top 1% of earners.
There are valid debates about the size and scope of IRS enforcement. However, the Congressional Budget Office, using standard nonpartisan methods, shows that these cuts will increase the deficit while primarily benefiting the wealthiest Americans who engage in sophisticated tax avoidance.
In January 2025, President Trump fired 18 inspectors general from various federal agencies. Inspectors General are responsible for investigating and reporting fraud and waste in their respective agencies. Instead, Trump inserted DOGE, a cadre of persons of unknown provenance and motives. These Inspector General positions remain empty as of November 2025. This was the largest mass firing of IGs since the post-Watergate IG system was created in 1978.
The Inspector General Act, passed with strong Republican support and strengthened in 2022 with bipartisan amendments, requires 30-day notice to Congress before firing IGs. This requirement wasn't followed.
"The 30-day detailed notice of removal that the law demands was not provided to Congress." — Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chair of Senate Judiciary Committee.
Limited government requires accountability. Inspectors General are the internal watchdogs that ensure government operates efficiently. Removing them doesn't shrink government — it allows waste, fraud, and abuse to proliferate unchecked.
The FCC's mandate is to regulate communications and to protect free speech. The FCC is mandated by law to have five commissioners. As of November 2025, however, the FCC has three. The administration has taken no steps to correct this problem, and is instead using the FCC and baseless lawsuits to bully media outlets into toeing the line for the administration. This is not free speech; it is propaganda.
By law, primarily the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) of 1944, the CDC's mandate is to protect public health by controlling the spread of infectious diseases, detecting threats, preventing illness, and promoting health, with authority to make and enforce regulations for quarantines, inspections, and sanitation to prevent diseases from entering or spreading within the U.S. The budget of the CDC is debatable and may indeed have become bloated over the years, but its core function is necessary for the health of the nation.
Going back to the 1960s, the Directors of the CDC held MD, PhD, and MPH (Master of Public Health) degrees. These were top people in their fields. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. holds none of these degrees.
The CDC has many advisory boards, such as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which recommends vaccine policies; several Boards of Scientific Counselors for specific centers like Infectious Diseases and Injury Prevention and Control; the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health; and the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STD Prevention and Treatment. In the past, these advisory boards were staffed with persons of expertise from various disciplines such as epidemiology, pediatrics, and public health, as required by the charters of the various committees. This is no longer the case.
For example, the entire staff of the ACIP was fired in June 2025. Subsequent appointments are concerning. Of particular interest:
Dr. Robert W. Malone, MD — MD from Northwestern University, physician-scientist and biochemist, early researcher in mRNA technology (late 1980s). The problem with Dr. Malone is his penchant for making bombastic claims without evidence or counter to evidence. His promotion of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatments is unsupported by any rigorous investigations. He has also claimed that spike proteins from vaccines are toxic and cause cancer. Dr. Malone is not board-certified in any specialty. He has no recent peer-reviewed publications on vaccine development since 1990.
Vicky Pebsworth, PhD, RN — PhD in Public Health and Nursing, University of Michigan (1999), Registered Nurse (ICU background). Ms. Pebsworth is a sad but very human case. Her son has severe autism, which she has continued to blame on thimerosal (containing mercury) in childhood vaccines. In 2001, thimerosal was removed from childhood vaccines, with no change in autism rate. There is no credible science to back up this claim. Her bias on this issue should disqualify her.
Others appointed to this agency have similar disqualifying issues. We want all drugs and medical procedures to be robustly demonstrated to be safe and effective, before and after widespread use.
Considering that big Pharma spends hundreds of millions of dollars every year lobbying Congress and its agencies, it is wise to be aware of this confounding influence. Scientists have an expression: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." The anti-vaccine movement is untethered to this axiom. All drugs have risks and benefits. Recommendations to the public by the CDC must be evidence-based and without bias or outside influence.
Other problems with the CDC under RFK include disengagement from world health bodies. This blinds us to impending threats of pandemics and other threats to our health.
The rhetoric from the CDC about vaccines is a good example of the danger we face, and is ironically countered by Trump himself, who has often bragged that "we saved 2 million people" — referencing early projections from doctors that 1.6 to 2.2 million people were saved by the Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit.
Since January 2025, the Trump administration has cancelled nearly $500 million in research grants. Some of these cancellations are justifiable, but many are not.
Research on mental health, addiction, climate change, aspects of HIV/AIDS research, mRNA vaccine technologies, and $800 million worth of research into cancers and viruses have all been cancelled. Many of these grants funded long-term studies that will now be useless because of data gaps.
Many of these cuts were made by DOGE staff who have no medical or epidemiological qualifications. Many of these cuts were made under the rubric of a DEI purge. Do we really want a monolithic culture with inequity and exclusion?
$TRUMP memecoin, $MELANIA memecoin, World Liberty Financial cryptocurrency company, USD1 stablecoin, and Trump NFTs have netted the Trump family hundreds of millions, if not billions, in questionable income. The investors span the range from foolish individuals to the sovereign wealth funds of dictatorships. What strings come attached to investments of this size?
Drug smugglers are criminals subject to interdiction and prosecution under the law. To designate criminals as terrorists by presidential edict subjects them to the rules of war, justifying lethal combat. This is dangerous for simple reasons.
Trump and his allies have designated anyone opposed to the fascist moves by this administration as "antifa," a terrorist organization. The entire Democratic party has been labeled a "criminal enterprise" (Stephen Miller) by this administration. The military has been called up to execute these edicts in our cities.
In other words, more than half of the American population is now subject to the rules of war, justifying lethal combat. How can anyone who loves this country support these steps toward dictatorship?
Going back to his first administration, Trump has assured us many times that he has the perfect plan for health care reform, to be released in "a few weeks."
ObamaCare expanded access to health care but left much work to be done regarding the supply side and the role of insurance companies and middlemen. It is a mess.
So far, this administration has taken no steps to fix the problems, and instead has cancelled the only parts of the ACA that actually helped people.
On top of that, cuts in funding to critical research and staffing at the CDC, and disease monitoring, put us all at risk.
No effort has been made to increase the number of doctors, clinics, and hospitals to accommodate the increase in demand. And then he appoints conspiracy theorists to important positions in our agencies.
Put up or shut up. Promises that never come
With the mid-terms approaching, we must be informed and active to prevent the further decline into authoritarianism. This also includes a close look at the positions of the Democratic side, which presents significant risks to our republic as well. An upcoming article will focus on this issue.
The Trump 2024 campaign cost $1.45 billion to run, for a job that pays a $400,000 salary — 3,600 times as much to get the job as what the job pays. 2024 campaign cost
The Biden/Harris 2024 campaign cost $1.99 billion to run, for the same $400,000-salary job — 4,900 times as much to get the job as what the job pays. 2024 campaign cost
US congressional races are also pretty disturbing, cost-wise. Sherrod Brown's last Senate campaign cost $22.7 million to run, for a job that pays a $174,000 salary — 130 times as much to get the job as what the job pays. J.D. Vance's last Senate campaign cost $17 million to run, for the same $174,000-salary job — 98 times as much to get the job as what the job pays.
Other factors make this money issue even worse. An individual is limited by law to a maximum $3,500 donation to a candidate per election cycle. PACs, however, may solicit and accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, labor organizations, and other political committees. The playing field is not level
Donors giving over $5 million accounted for over 75% of funding for the major presidential super PACs. Do you personally know anyone who can afford a donation of this size? What do they want for their money? Dark money hit a record high of $1.9 billion in 2024, most Americans see unlimited election spending as a threat to democracy
Lobbying Industry — a whopping $4.4 billion was spent lobbying our government in 2024. Most of this was corporate money from business interests. Lobbying data
Our electoral system does not serve us. Democrat and Republican party approval ratings are under 40% as of November 2025, a pretty good indication that we are not getting the quality of representatives that we desire from either party. The Electoral College, winner-take-all elections, gerrymandering, and the party primary system all encumber our ability to select the best candidates. Political party approval data
Income and wealth disparity. Many wealthy people live good, ethical, and modest lives. We all desire to be rich enough to not worry, and to have vibrant lives. But there is a point where the lust for wealth becomes the lust for power over others. US income disparity (log scale), US income disparity (linear scale)
The reader may note that the extensive research for this piece is sourced from official government publications, legal briefs, and mostly conservative institutions and foundations. The media (and particularly social media) is not referenced. How to Do Effective Researching