Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could make him the most powerful president in history by using a controversial Constitutional theory to get his way.Â
The new order establishes a standards and an accountability process for all independent federal agencies that would bring them under control of the executive branch in the White House.Â
Observers suggest that Trump is using unitary executive theory which grants the president a wide swath of authority.Â
The conservative theory’s advocates argue that Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which delineates presidential powers, gives the president sole authority over the federal government’s executive branch.Â
It envisions robust powers even when Congress has sought to impose certain limits, such as restricting a president’s ability to fire the heads of some independent agencies.Â
Trump’s executive order grants him power over various agencies which have been established to be separate from the president.Â
The Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission all would have to report to the president under the EO.Â
Russel Vought, the so-called architect of Project 2025 turned head of the Office of Management and Budget, is said to be a big proponent of getting rid of these agencies, according to Politico.Â
Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could make him the most powerful president in history, using a controversial Constitutional law theory to potentially get his way

Russel Vought, the so-called architect of Project 2025 turned head of the Office of Management and Budget, is said to be a big proponent of getting rid of these agencies
The order allows Vought to ‘establish performance standards and management objectives for independent agency heads, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, and report periodically to the President on their performance and efficiency in attaining such standards and objectives.’
Vought – who has already become acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – is also granted power of reviewing and changing the budgets for the agencies ‘to advance the President’s policies and priorities.’Â
Trump argues that this would allow the government to ‘be truly accountable to the American people.’
The president has also axed the heads of the National Labor Relations Board and the Office of Government Ethics. Â
Vought, alongside the White House Domestic Policy Council and National Economic Council, is allowed to bring these agencies in to ‘regularly consult with and coordinate policies and priorities’ under the order.Â
It also states that employees cannot ‘advance an interpretation of the law as the position of the United States that contravenes the President or the Attorney General’s opinion on a matter of law.’
The move jives with the president’s attempt to drain the swamp and have his way during his second term.Â
Trump has signed scores of executive directives in the past three weeks, many of which have and will been challenged in the courts as potentially unconstitutional. This latest EO will likely be no exception.

Trump has signed scores of executive directives in the past three weeks, many of which have and will been challenged in the courts as potentially unconstitutional. This latest EO will likely be no exception

People hold up placards opposing the policies of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s involvement during the protests at the ‘Not My President’s Day’ rally in Union Square Park in New York
While the executive order makes no mention of him, Trump has suggested that his reliance on Elon Musk is a way for him to push through these desired policies after becoming dismayed with Washington gridlock during his first term.Â
Musk divulged in a joint interview with Trump Tuesday that he is merely just ‘tech support’ for the president.
But Trump clarified that the billionaire’s real role within the federal government is to cuts through the bureaucratic process and ‘get it done.’
The president lamented to Fox News host Sean Hannity how executive orders are issued but not adopted effectively or in a timely manner.Â
But he claims that Musk managed to streamline the implementation.
Trump joked that he chose Musk as his right-hand-man this time around in Washington, D.C. because he ‘couldn’t find anyone smarter’ than the Tesla and SpaceX boss.
He even said that his team looked for someone smarter to join the team to no avail.
Trump and Musk sat side-by-side for a wide ranging interview with Hannity that aired on Tuesday evening. The two showered compliments back-and-forth, prompting Hannity to say he felt like he was ‘interviewing two brothers here.’

Trump and Musk sat side-by-side for a wide ranging interview with Hannity that aired on Tuesday evening. The two showered compliments back-and-forth, prompting Hannity to say he felt like he was ‘interviewing two brothers here’

‘I wanted to find somebody smarter than him,’ Trump joked of his unlikely friendship and partnership with Musk. ‘I searched all over. I just couldn’t do it… I couldn’t find anyone smarter’
‘I wanted somebody really smart to work with me in terms of the country, a very important aspect, because, I mean… he’s actually a very good businessman,’ Trump said of his so-called ‘first buddy.’
Musk is leading the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was a group created by Trump with the intention of cutting government spending, ending fraud and reducing waste of taxpayer funds.Â
So far the group has canceled billions in contracts to private firms awarded by the Education Department and National Institutes of Health.
Much of this was complying with Trump’s executive order to put an end to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and practices as well as prioritizing compliance with immigration law enforcement.
Musk found humor in his role as Trump’s executor, describing himself as a ‘technologist’ and donning a T-shirt that read ‘Tech Support’ for the interview.
Musk waved off criticism that he was acting as if he were the US president, saying none of Trump’s cabinet members were elected and that he views his role as facilitating Trump’s agenda.
‘The president is the elected representative of the people, so it’s representing the will of the people,’ Musk explained.
‘And if the bureaucracy is fighting the will of the people and preventing the president from implementing what the people want, then what we live in is a bureaucracy and not a democracy.’