Disclaimer, I don’t like what is being done, I think its wrong, damaging, and questionably legal, at least the process that is currently in progress.
To add more nuance and explanation, There are only 3 branches of government, and when congress says we want a thing done, the executive is the one to execute, because where else could you even put it? For truly independent agencies, I think you need to amend the constitution for that. The current administration is taking that to heart and taking more of an active role, often beyond bounds set, in what is still lower level of the executive. If you were to go to an org chart of the people being fired, and departments being closed, if you went up a few levels you would get to the president. As much as NIH, or CDC, or USAID, or any others are independent, at the end of the day, they are part of the executive.
Most of what is being done has been done or tried to be done before, not necessarily at the same time.
As for your list, I’d be careful about throwing the baby out with the bath water, the NSA is involved with evaluating encryption, although there is some checkered history (DES) in this role.
The FBI helps coordinate multi state investigations
Intelligence from the CIA would be useful, but their history of foreign meddling that has come back to bite is a bit hard to overlook.
For truly independent agencies, I think you need to amend the constitution for that.
i don’t think we need most of these agencies at all, but those that are needed could still be created directly under the supervision of congress. would it make their lives harder? yes. but it would also stop any autocratically-minded executive from doing what’s being done.
Disclaimer, I don’t like what is being done, I think its wrong, damaging, and questionably legal, at least the process that is currently in progress.
To add more nuance and explanation, There are only 3 branches of government, and when congress says we want a thing done, the executive is the one to execute, because where else could you even put it? For truly independent agencies, I think you need to amend the constitution for that. The current administration is taking that to heart and taking more of an active role, often beyond bounds set, in what is still lower level of the executive. If you were to go to an org chart of the people being fired, and departments being closed, if you went up a few levels you would get to the president. As much as NIH, or CDC, or USAID, or any others are independent, at the end of the day, they are part of the executive.
Most of what is being done has been done or tried to be done before, not necessarily at the same time.
As for your list, I’d be careful about throwing the baby out with the bath water, the NSA is involved with evaluating encryption, although there is some checkered history (DES) in this role.
The FBI helps coordinate multi state investigations
Intelligence from the CIA would be useful, but their history of foreign meddling that has come back to bite is a bit hard to overlook.
the congress. the congress could make a law. it’s that simple. the fugitive slave act didn’t need a fucking Agency of Slave Recovery.
i don’t think we need most of these agencies at all, but those that are needed could still be created directly under the supervision of congress. would it make their lives harder? yes. but it would also stop any autocratically-minded executive from doing what’s being done.