As Donald Trump prepares to make another run at becoming president, legal scholars, civil liberty groups, and some members of his own party have become alarmed about his plans to dramatically expand executive power should he win back office. This strategy has created alarm among legal scholars, civil liberties groups, and members of his own party alike.
At the core of Trump’s vision lies an ambitious campaign to reassert presidential control over federal agencies, break down long-established checks on executive power and bypass institutions that “interfere” with his agenda. Through speeches and policy documents released by his 2024 campaign team, Trump has pledged to “liberate the presidency from the deep state” by giving direct authority back to departments such as Justice, FBI and Federal Reserve.
“The President should serve as chief executive – not be managed by unelected bureaucrats,” Trump declared at a rally in Ohio last week. “We will restore accountability back into Washington beginning day one.”
Trump and his supporters see his proposal as necessary to address decades of executive weakness and judicial overreach, while critics warn it constitutes an authoritarian power grab.
An Impasse Over Law and Constitution Aims at Present
Trump’s proposals raise serious constitutional questions, including: whether a president can unilaterally dismiss career civil servants, overrule independent agencies and ignore traditional norms that separate law enforcement and political influence.
“This proposal goes far beyond just rhetoric – it represents an actual plan to dismantle our system of checks and balances,” noted Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law professor from Harvard. If implemented, this change would represent “one of the greatest shifts in power balance since founding of republic.”
Conservative think tanks like the Heritage Foundation have provided a detailed outline of Trump’s strategy under “Project 2025,” an initiative to fill federal positions with his allies, reduce civil service worker protections and establish presidential control of policymaking.
Who Can Stop Him? With Donald Trump leading several early battleground polls, many are asking themselves: If he returns to power, who could stop him?
Legal experts believe courts would provide the first line of defense; however, Trump has become more influential over time on the judiciary – particularly the Supreme Court – than before his first term was over.
Congress could potentially rein in any abuses of power by Donald Trump; however, political analysts caution that an all-Republican House or Senate may be unlikely to challenge his authority.
“Institutional resistance depends on political will,” stated Amanda Carpenter, a former Republican staffer and now political commentator. If GOP lawmakers continue to fall into line out of fear or loyalty without challenging Donald Trump’s authority there will be few effective checks against it.”
Pushback from Public and Institutions Begins
Civil liberties groups like the ACLU and government watchdogs are already planning legal challenges and public campaigns to defend democratic norms.
Former officials from both Republican and Democratic administrations have also voiced their disquiet. Michael Hayden, former CIA Director noted: “The presidency is not a monarchy – power must have limits or it becomes tyranny.”
As the 2024 election cycle nears, debate over presidential power could become a central focus; one that not only determines who wins the race but the future of American democracy as a whole.