In a bold display of executive power, President Trump’s administration is reshaping federal spending amid an ongoing government shutdown, stirring debate about the balance of power in Washington.
ADRIAN FLORIDO, HOST: President Trump has embraced a wide-ranging interpretation of executive authority. Recently, his administration has increased military actions against what the president calls drug boats. Additionally, they have managed to pay some federal employees by reallocating funds without congressional approval, raising concerns about Congress’ role under Trump’s leadership. NPR’s congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales provides insights on this issue.
CLAUDIA GRISALES, BYLINE: Hi, Adrian.
FLORIDO: Can you explain the intended dynamic between the White House and Congress?
GRISALES: Certainly. The government is built on a foundation of coequal branches, where Congress should have a say in decisions like military force usage and oversee government spending. However, Trump has independently led military actions in the Caribbean against suspected drug vessels and issued payments to federal workers, despite the shutdown. Professor Stephen Vladeck from Georgetown University comments on this shift in congressional power.
STEPHEN VLADECK: I think we’ve seen a radical collapse of congressional power.
GRISALES: Democrats have voiced their concerns regularly. What about Republican leaders, Claudia?
GRISALES: Many Republicans defend the president. Senate Majority Leader John Thune shared his perspective on Trump’s actions, particularly concerning government appropriations.
JOHN THUNE: I mean, we have the power of the purse, obviously. Everybody’s waiting for the government to be opened up. Congress has to do that.
GRISALES: Thune argues that Trump is easing the shutdown’s impact on federal workers.
THUNE: There are things they can do. They’re moving money around. They’re doing things that any administration has done in the past to try and keep people, as many people as possible, getting paid.
GRISALES: So, according to Thune, Congress still maintains control over the purse, but they are comfortable with Trump’s approach.
FLORIDO: Appropriations have been problematic for a while. How does this situation differ?
GRISALES: This is unprecedented, as no president has commandeered appropriations power like this before. Trump’s and OMB head Russell Vought’s actions during this shutdown highlight the extent of their willingness to manage spending, which has traditionally been Congress’s role. Georgetown law professor Josh Chafetz discusses OMB’s recent moves.
JOSH CHAFETZ: Essentially, what the OMB is saying is we can spend money that hasn’t been authorized by Congress. And we don’t have to spend money that has been appropriated by Congress. Once you put those two together, there’s nothing left of the congressional role.
GRISALES: Some Republicans, including Senators Rand Paul and Susan Collins, assert that Congress should retain budgetary control.
FLORIDO: How do these military strikes in the Caribbean align with the broader discussion on executive power?
GRISALES: A few Republicans worry these strikes may breach domestic and international laws. Senator Paul criticizes Trump’s precedent of acting first and questioning later.
RAND PAUL: I think the idea of indiscriminately killing people without knowing their names, without seeing any evidence, without making a formal accusation or without collecting evidence – it’s kind of ironic that we think these people are so dangerous, we’re going to kill them without any information.
GRISALES: An anonymous U.S. official informed NPR of another alleged drug vessel strike last night, now in the Pacific.
FLORIDO: Are there any potential checks on Trump’s expanding authority?
GRISALES: Legal challenges in federal courts and voter influence in the upcoming midterm elections are potential checks on Trump’s power.
FLORIDO: Thank you, Claudia.
GRISALES: Thank you.
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