{"id":441,"date":"2026-01-07T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/?p=441"},"modified":"2026-01-11T15:34:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T20:34:38","slug":"executive-power-overview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/executive-power-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s second term shifts the balance of power to the executive "},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Dan Stark 
UConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Unpar\u00adal\u00adleled. Unprece\u00addent\u00aded. Unchecked.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are some of the words that have been used by many to describe the actions of Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump dur\u00ading his sec\u00adond term in office.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon return\u00ading to the White House in Jan\u00adu\u00adary 2025, Trump has tak\u00aden sweep\u00ading actions that have pro\u00admot\u00aded a broad view of exec\u00adu\u00adtive pow\u00ader as he push\u00ades to imple\u00adment his agen\u00adda, includ\u00ading issu\u00ading over 200 exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders, imple\u00adment\u00ading tar\u00adiffs on for\u00adeign goods, fir\u00ading large num\u00adbers of fed\u00ader\u00adal work\u00aders, shut\u00adter\u00ading agen\u00adcies and freez\u00ading fed\u00ader\u00adal fund\u00ading to accom\u00adplish ide\u00ado\u00adlog\u00adi\u00adcal goals.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Official portrait of President Donald Trump. Trump has been trying to expand executive power in his second term. Photo via The White House<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/January_2025_Official_Presidential_Portrait_of_Donald_J._Trump-791x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/January_2025_Official_Presidential_Portrait_of_Donald_J._Trump-791x1024.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-1024\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2\/3;object-fit:cover;width:350px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/January_2025_Official_Presidential_Portrait_of_Donald_J._Trump-791x1024.jpg 791w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/January_2025_Official_Presidential_Portrait_of_Donald_J._Trump-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/January_2025_Official_Presidential_Portrait_of_Donald_J._Trump-768x994.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/January_2025_Official_Presidential_Portrait_of_Donald_J._Trump.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px\">
Offi\u00adcial por\u00adtrait of Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump. Trump has been try\u00ading to expand exec\u00adu\u00adtive pow\u00ader in his sec\u00adond term. Pho\u00adto via The White House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The impacts so far have reached into civil\u00adian life in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut and across the coun\u00adtry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schools have faced threats of fund\u00ading loss if they don\u2019t com\u00adply with new diver\u00adsi\u00adty, equi\u00adty and inclu\u00adsion poli\u00adcies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An anti-sci\u00adence agen\u00adda has under\u00admined fed\u00ader\u00adal pub\u00adlic health guide\u00adlines as dereg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adtion has weak\u00adened envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal pro\u00adtec\u00adtions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renew\u00adable ener\u00adgy projects, includ\u00ading some in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, have been stalled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-prof\u00adit groups, the\u00adaters and food pantries in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut and across the coun\u00adtry have lost fed\u00ader\u00adal fund\u00ading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depor\u00adta\u00adtions have dra\u00admat\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly ramped up and pro\u00adtec\u00adtions for refugees have been can\u00adceled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trans\u00adgen\u00adder Amer\u00adi\u00adcans have seen their iden\u00adti\u00adties chal\u00adlenged and inter\u00adna\u00adtion\u00adal stu\u00addents have had their actions scru\u00adti\u00adnized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Pub\u00adlic and pri\u00advate uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adties, includ\u00ading the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, have lost mil\u00adlions of dol\u00adlars in research grants as the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion seeks to reshape what is stud\u00adied and taught amid a broad\u00ader attempt to shape pub\u00adlic his\u00adto\u00adry.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behind this is a pres\u00adi\u00addent who has been embold\u00adened to expand the pow\u00ader of the exec\u00adu\u00adtive branch. Trump has wres\u00adtled the pow\u00ader of the purse away from the leg\u00adisla\u00adtive branch by elim\u00adi\u00adnat\u00ading agen\u00adcies and pro\u00adgrams approved by Con\u00adgress. He has tak\u00aden con\u00adtrol over inde\u00adpen\u00addent reg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adto\u00adry agen\u00adcies, tried to elim\u00adi\u00adnate agen\u00adcies he dis\u00adfa\u00advors like the Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion and imposed puri\u00adty tests on fed\u00ader\u00adal work\u00aders. He has deployed the Nation\u00adal Guard to patrol Demo\u00adc\u00adrat-led cities and can\u00adcelled bil\u00adlions in fund\u00ading to blue states. He has called for the jail\u00ading of Demo\u00adc\u00adra\u00adt\u00adic offi\u00adcials and for the Jus\u00adtice Depart\u00adment to pun\u00adish his ene\u00admies. News out\u00adlets have been barred from the White House and tele\u00advi\u00adsion net\u00adworks have had their broad\u00adcast licens\u00ades threat\u00adened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These actions have occurred at a greater scale and pace than dur\u00ading Trump\u2019s first term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA dif\u00adfer\u00adence between a sec\u00adond and first term is a lev\u00adel of sophis\u00adti\u00adca\u00adtion and kind of strate\u00adgic plan\u00adning,\u201d said Mitchel Sol\u00adlen\u00adberg\u00ader, a polit\u00adi\u00adcal sci\u00adence pro\u00adfes\u00adsor at the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Michi\u00adgan-Dear\u00adborn<\/a> who has researched on exec\u00adu\u00adtive pow\u00ader. \u201cThere\u2019s inten\u00adtion\u00adal\u00adi\u00adty in Trump 2.0 that you didn\u2019t see with Trump 1.0, so there\u2019s much more focus on uni\u00adlat\u00ader\u00adal exec\u00adu\u00adtive action in Trump 2.0 than 1.0.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s actions have not gone unchal\u00adlenged. Mil\u00adlions of peo\u00adple have gath\u00adered across the coun\u00adtry for \u201cNo Kings\u201d protests through\u00adout the year, with the Octo\u00adber events mark\u00ading the biggest protests<\/a> seen in the U.S. since Earth Day in 1970. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Groups like the Amer\u00adi\u00adcan Civ\u00adil Lib\u00ader\u00adties Union of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut have filed law\u00adsuits on behalf of those impact\u00aded while coali\u00adtions of states have band\u00aded togeth\u00ader to fight back against Trump\u2019s actions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal William Tong, a Demo\u00adc\u00adrat and first-gen\u00ader\u00ada\u00adtion Amer\u00adi\u00adcan, has been one of the most aggres\u00adsive, join\u00ading in more than three dozen legal chal\u00adlenges against the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion. Tong said these law\u00adsuits aren\u2019t root\u00aded in par\u00adti\u00adsan bias but were nec\u00ades\u00adsary because the attor\u00adneys gen\u00ader\u00adal view Trump\u2019s actions as threats to the sov\u00ader\u00adeign\u00adty of their states and the lives of their cit\u00adi\u00adzens.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t ask for this,\u201d Tong said. States were com\u00adpelled to sue because of \u201coffens\u00ades to the states, to the Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion, to our rule of law and the guardrails. All of these things have been so threat\u00adened in such a pro\u00adfound way that we\u2019ve had to act.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separation of Powers and the Power of the Purse<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Capitol in Washington DC at night on Oct. 21, 2025. Articles of impeachment are introduced and passed by the House of Representatives and tried by the Senate. Photo by Lily Goldblatt<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/DC_capitol_at_night_10212025-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/DC_capitol_at_night_10212025-1024x683.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-276\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/DC_capitol_at_night_10212025-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/DC_capitol_at_night_10212025-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/DC_capitol_at_night_10212025-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/DC_capitol_at_night_10212025-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/DC_capitol_at_night_10212025-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
The Capi\u00adtol in Wash\u00ading\u00adton D.C. at night on Oct. 21, 2025. The Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion sep\u00ada\u00adrates the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment into three branch\u00ades: exec\u00adu\u00adtive, leg\u00adisla\u00adtive and judi\u00adcial. Pho\u00adto by Lily Gold\u00adblatt.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Many of the Trump administration\u2019s expan\u00adsions of exec\u00adu\u00adtive pow\u00ader have come from its attempt to seize spend\u00ading pow\u00ader from Con\u00adgress, known as the \u201cpow\u00ader of the purse.\u201d This has occurred through can\u00adcelling research grants, defund\u00ading agen\u00adcies and imple\u00adment\u00ading fund\u00ading freezes, which has impact\u00aded mul\u00adti\u00adple aspects of Amer\u00adi\u00adcan life.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ener\u00adgy fund\u00ading is one affect\u00aded area. In August, the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion halt\u00aded con\u00adstruc\u00adtion on Rev\u00ado\u00adlu\u00adtion Wind, an off\u00adshore wind project that was expect\u00aded to reduce ener\u00adgy costs in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut. The move was chal\u00adlenged by Tong as well as oth\u00ader par\u00adties to the project. The U.S. Dis\u00adtrict Court for the Dis\u00adtrict of Colum\u00adbia issued an injunc\u00adtion in Sep\u00adtem\u00adber allow\u00ading for con\u00adstruc\u00adtion to resume. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion has sought to influ\u00adence cur\u00adricu\u00adlum and pro\u00adgrams at col\u00adleges and uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adties, threat\u00aden\u00ading to with\u00adhold fund\u00ading from insti\u00adtu\u00adtions that do not com\u00adply. Some schools have been specif\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly tar\u00adget\u00aded and have cho\u00adsen to set\u00adtle with the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion, most notably Colum\u00adbia Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty, which agreed to pay $200 mil\u00adlion after threats and alle\u00adga\u00adtions of anti-Semi\u00adtism from Trump. Oth\u00ader uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adties, includ\u00ading Har\u00advard Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty, have tak\u00aden a more com\u00adbat\u00adive approach by suing the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While UConn has not been specif\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly tar\u00adget\u00aded like Colum\u00adbia and Har\u00advard, it has still been impact\u00aded by cuts to research grants. UConn had $41 mil\u00adlion in fed\u00ader\u00adal research grants ter\u00admi\u00adnat\u00aded as of Oct. 15, impact\u00ading research in a vari\u00adety of pro\u00adgrams from health to polit\u00adi\u00adcal sci\u00adence. Tom Kat\u00adsouleas, an engi\u00adneer\u00ading pro\u00adfes\u00adsor and for\u00admer pres\u00adi\u00addent of UConn, has crit\u00adi\u00adcized the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion for what he believes is an author\u00adi\u00adtar\u00adi\u00adan takeover of edu\u00adca\u00adtion. In May, he and a group of sev\u00aden oth\u00ader for\u00admer uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty pres\u00adi\u00addents pub\u00adlished an op-ed in the Wash\u00ading\u00adton Post call\u00ading for the pub\u00adlic to \u201cspeak up in defense of pri\u00advate and pub\u00adlic research uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adties and every\u00adthing they do to ensure our way of life and the future secu\u00adri\u00adty and pros\u00adper\u00adi\u00adty of the nation.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion is mov\u00ading as far as it can towards being author\u00adi\u00adtar\u00adi\u00adan, and high\u00ader edu\u00adca\u00adtion and its pur\u00adsuit of truth is anti\u00adthet\u00adi\u00adcal and an obsta\u00adcle to form\u00ading more author\u00adi\u00adtar\u00adi\u00adan gov\u00adern\u00adment,\u201d Kat\u00adsouleas said in an inter\u00adview. \u201cAuthor\u00adi\u00adtar\u00adi\u00adan gov\u00adern\u00adments like to devel\u00adop their own nar\u00adra\u00adtives \u2026 and uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adties being about truth then become prob\u00adlem\u00adat\u00adic.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump has also tried to seize con\u00adtrol over inde\u00adpen\u00addent reg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adto\u00adry agen\u00adcies. In Feb\u00adru\u00adary, he signed an exec\u00adu\u00adtive order requir\u00ading them to sub\u00admit fre\u00adquent updates to the White House and reg\u00adu\u00adlar\u00adly coor\u00addi\u00adnate with them about pol\u00adi\u00adcy pro\u00adpos\u00adals and actions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Office of Man\u00adage\u00adment and Bud\u00adget direc\u00adtor Rus\u00adsell Vought, who was one main archi\u00adtects of the Project 2025 plan out\u00adlin\u00ading goals for a con\u00adser\u00adv\u00ada\u00adtive redesign of the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment, has been a key advo\u00adcate for Trump tak\u00ading con\u00adtrol of these agen\u00adcies and has argued that they aren\u2019t ful\u00adly inde\u00adpen\u00addent under the Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are no inde\u00adpen\u00addent agen\u00adcies,\u201d he said in an inter\u00adview with con\u00adser\u00adv\u00ada\u00adtive polit\u00adi\u00adcal com\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtor Tuck\u00ader Carl\u00adson as Trump pre\u00adpared to take office. \u201cCon\u00adgress may have viewed them as such \u2013 SEC, or the FCC, CFPB, the whole alpha\u00adbet soup \u2013 but that is not some\u00adthing that the Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion under\u00adstands.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the Fed\u00ader\u00adal Reserve Board of Gov\u00ader\u00adnors was list\u00aded as an exempt agency in the order, Trump announced in August his inten\u00adtion to remove a Pres\u00adi\u00addent Joe Biden appointee three years into her 14-year, Sen\u00adate-approved board term with\u00adout cause. Lisa Cook sued the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion and a fed\u00ader\u00adal appeals court blocked her fir\u00ading in Sep\u00adtem\u00adber.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Decem\u00adber, the Supreme Court heard oral argu\u00adments in anoth\u00ader case, Trump v. Slaugh\u00adter, which was filed by two Demo\u00adc\u00adra\u00adt\u00adic mem\u00adbers of the Fed\u00ader\u00adal Trade Com\u00admis\u00adsion who were fired by Trump in March. Con\u00adser\u00adv\u00ada\u00adtive mem\u00adbers of the Court appeared open to allow\u00ading Trump to fire mem\u00adbers of inde\u00adpen\u00addent agen\u00adcies, while the lib\u00ader\u00adal bloc opposed the idea.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re ask\u00ading us to destroy the struc\u00adture of gov\u00adern\u00adment and to take away from Con\u00adgress its abil\u00adi\u00adty to pro\u00adtect its idea that the gov\u00adern\u00adment is bet\u00adter struc\u00adtured with some agen\u00adcies that are inde\u00adpen\u00addent,\u201d said Supreme Court Asso\u00adciate Jus\u00adtice Sonia Sotomay\u00ador.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Agency for Inter\u00adna\u00adtion\u00adal Devel\u00adop\u00adment, an inde\u00adpen\u00addent agency which fund\u00aded human\u00adi\u00adtar\u00adi\u00adan efforts around the world, was also quick\u00adly tar\u00adget\u00aded by the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion. He signed an exec\u00adu\u00adtive order in Jan\u00adu\u00adary 2025 crit\u00adi\u00adciz\u00ading for\u00adeign aid and elim\u00adi\u00adnat\u00aded over 90% of USAID\u2019s con\u00adtracts, effec\u00adtive\u00adly shut\u00adting down the orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion before merg\u00ading it into the Depart\u00adment of State.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Unit\u00aded States for\u00adeign aid indus\u00adtry and bureau\u00adcra\u00adcy are not aligned with Amer\u00adi\u00adcan inter\u00adests and in many cas\u00ades anti\u00adthet\u00adi\u00adcal to Amer\u00adi\u00adcan val\u00adues,\u201d the exec\u00adu\u00adtive order read. \u201cThey serve to desta\u00adbi\u00adlize world peace by pro\u00admot\u00ading ideas in for\u00adeign coun\u00adtries that are direct\u00adly inverse to har\u00admo\u00adnious and sta\u00adble rela\u00adtions inter\u00adnal to and among coun\u00adtries.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Targeting Opposition<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
National Guard troops deployed in Washington, DC, in September 2025. Photo by Amanda J. Crawford<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC3-CRAWFORD-1024x768.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC3-CRAWFORD-1024x768.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC3-CRAWFORD-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC3-CRAWFORD-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC3-CRAWFORD-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC3-CRAWFORD-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/NATLGDDC3-CRAWFORD.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
Nation\u00adal Guard troops deployed in Wash\u00ading\u00adton, DC, in Sep\u00adtem\u00adber 2025. Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump deployed the Nation\u00adal Guard to D.C. to help local law enforce\u00adment. Pho\u00adto by Aman\u00adda J. Craw\u00adford<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Under Trump, the Nation\u00adal Guard has been deployed in ways not seen since the Viet\u00adnam War. In June, he deployed near\u00adly 4,000 Nation\u00adal Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Ange\u00adles in response to protests against aggres\u00adsive immi\u00adgra\u00adtion raids. Since then, he has deployed troops to Mem\u00adphis, Port\u00adland, Chica\u00adgo and Wash\u00ading\u00adton, D.C.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The legal\u00adi\u00adty of these deploy\u00adments has been con\u00adtin\u00adu\u00adous\u00adly chal\u00adlenged in courts. In Sep\u00adtem\u00adber, the U.S. Dis\u00adtrict Court for the North\u00adern Dis\u00adtrict of Cal\u00adi\u00adfor\u00adnia ruled that Trump\u2019s deploy\u00adment of the Nation\u00adal Guard to Los Ange\u00adles was ille\u00adgal under the Posse Comi\u00adta\u00adtus Act, which pro\u00adhibits the use of the mil\u00adi\u00adtary in civil\u00adian law enforce\u00adment. In the rul\u00ading, U.S. Dis\u00adtrict Court Judge Charles Brey\u00ader of the North\u00adern Dis\u00adtrict of Cal\u00adi\u00adfor\u00adnia said that send\u00ading in the troops would \u201ccre\u00adate a brand-new excep\u00adtion to the Posse Comi\u00adta\u00adtus Act that nul\u00adli\u00adfies the act itself.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deploy\u00adment of the Nation\u00adal Guard to Port\u00adland was also blocked by the courts. U.S. Dis\u00adtrict Court Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee from Ore\u00adgon, issued two rul\u00adings in Octo\u00adber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDefen\u00addants have made a range of argu\u00adments that, if accept\u00aded, risk blur\u00adring the line between civ\u00adil and mil\u00adi\u00adtary fed\u00ader\u00adal pow\u00ader \u2013 to the detri\u00adment of this nation,\u201d she wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immi\u00adgrants have been tar\u00adget\u00aded exten\u00adsive\u00adly under Trump, with ICE raids across the coun\u00adtry to achieve mass depor\u00adta\u00adtions. The admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion claims that near\u00adly two mil\u00adlion undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded immi\u00adgrants have either been deport\u00aded or self-deport\u00aded, while thou\u00adsands have been held in deten\u00adtion facil\u00adi\u00adties across the coun\u00adtry.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Sen. Chris Mur\u00adphy of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, one of Trump\u2019s lead\u00ading Demo\u00adc\u00adra\u00adt\u00adic crit\u00adics, said that this crack\u00addown on immi\u00adgrants is \u201cvio\u00adlat\u00ading one of the most sacred laws of our nation\u201d and is root\u00aded in racism.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe lies that they\u2019ve per\u00adpet\u00adu\u00adat\u00aded on the pub\u00adlic is that there\u2019s some spe\u00adcif\u00adic threat posed by immi\u00adgrants, when in fact the oppo\u00adsite is true,\u201d Mur\u00adphy said in an inter\u00adview. \u201cThis is a racist trope. The idea that immi\u00adgrants, and specif\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded immi\u00adgrants are a secu\u00adri\u00adty threat, is just not true.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump has tak\u00aden an aggres\u00adsive approach against state and local elect\u00aded offi\u00adcials who have crit\u00adi\u00adcized his actions. When Illi\u00adnois gov\u00ader\u00adnor JB Pritzk\u00ader and May\u00ador Bran\u00addon John\u00adson expressed oppo\u00adsi\u00adtion to the Nation\u00adal Guard deploy\u00adment in Chica\u00adgo, Trump respond\u00aded<\/a> in a Truth Social post that \u201cChica\u00adgo May\u00ador should be in jail for fail\u00ading to pro\u00adtect Ice Offi\u00adcers! Gov\u00ader\u00adnor Pritzk\u00ader also!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump also threat\u00adened to arrest Zohran Mam\u00addani, who was elect\u00aded may\u00ador of New York City in Novem\u00adber, if he tried to block ICE arrests in the city, which Mam\u00addani vowed to do.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a group of Demo\u00adc\u00adra\u00adt\u00adic law\u00admak\u00aders led by U.S. Sen. Mark Kel\u00adly of Ari\u00adzona released a video telling sol\u00addiers that \u201cyou can refuse ille\u00adgal orders,\u201d Trump took to Truth Social<\/a> to call the video \u201cSEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, pun\u00adish\u00adable by DEATH!\u201d Kel\u00adly has said he has received death threats since Trump\u2019s post.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The administration\u2019s threats have also tar\u00adget\u00aded media orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions. In Sep\u00adtem\u00adber, ABC sus\u00adpend\u00aded \u201cJim\u00admy Kim\u00admel Live!\u201d after FCC Chair\u00adman Bren\u00addan Carr threat\u00adened action against the net\u00adwork and par\u00adent com\u00adpa\u00adny Dis\u00adney for host Jim\u00admy Kimmel\u2019s remarks about the death of Char\u00adlie Kirk. The sus\u00adpen\u00adsion was her\u00adald\u00aded by Trump, who took to Truth Social to call for NBC to take sim\u00adi\u00adlar action against come\u00addi\u00adans Jim\u00admy Fal\u00adlon and Seth Mey\u00aders, too.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump has tak\u00aden legal action against mul\u00adti\u00adple media orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions. He filed a $15 bil\u00adlion defama\u00adtion law\u00adsuit against The New York Times regard\u00ading its cov\u00ader\u00adage of his 2024 cam\u00adpaign. The case was thrown out in Sep\u00adtem\u00adber before being refiled in Octo\u00adber.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July, Para\u00admount agreed to pay $16 mil\u00adlion to Trump to set\u00adtle a law\u00adsuit he filed about the edit\u00ading of a \u201c60 Min\u00adutes\u201d inter\u00adview with Kamala Har\u00adris that aired on CBS in Octo\u00adber.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s rhetoric has rein\u00adforced the idea that he is crack\u00ading down on free speech. In Sep\u00adtem\u00adber, he claimed that neg\u00ada\u00adtive TV cov\u00ader\u00adage about him is \u201cno longer free speech\u201d and said net\u00adworks should lose licens\u00ades<\/a> for air\u00ading con\u00adtent crit\u00adi\u00adcal of him. After he signed an exec\u00adu\u00adtive order to crack down on the prac\u00adtice of flag burn\u00ading, which the Supreme Court has long said is pro\u00adtect\u00aded under the First Amend\u00adment, Trump said that his admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion \u201ctook the free\u00addom of speech away.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Inter\u00adna\u00adtion\u00adal stu\u00addents at uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adties have had their visas revoked and been arrest\u00aded for pub\u00adlish\u00ading op-eds and par\u00adtic\u00adi\u00adpat\u00ading in protests. Among them was R\u00fcmeysa \u00d6zt\u00fcrk, a doc\u00adtor\u00adal stu\u00addent at Tufts Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty in Mass\u00ada\u00adchu\u00adsetts who wrote an op-ed crit\u00adi\u00adciz\u00ading the university\u2019s response to the Israel-Gaza War and was detained by ICE in March. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump has also used his pow\u00ader to tar\u00adget his crit\u00adics. He pres\u00adsured grand juries in Vir\u00adginia to indict New York Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal Leti\u00adtia James and for\u00admer FBI Direc\u00adtor James Comey, two promi\u00adnent Trump crit\u00adics, on charges of mak\u00ading false state\u00adments. The charges were dis\u00admissed in Novem\u00adber. John Bolton, who became crit\u00adi\u00adcal of Trump after serv\u00ading as Nation\u00adal Secu\u00adri\u00adty Advi\u00adsor dur\u00ading his first term, was indict\u00aded in Octo\u00adber under pres\u00adsure from Trump. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rule of Law<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The White House in Washington DC on Oct. 21, 2025. Article 2 of the Constitution establishes the office of the presidency, including pardoning powers. Photo by Lily Goldblatt<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-1024x683.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-274\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
The White House in Wash\u00ading\u00adton D.C. on Oct. 21, 2025. Some see Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump\u2019s inter\u00adpre\u00adta\u00adtion of exec\u00adu\u00adtive pow\u00ader as dis\u00adre\u00adgard\u00ading the rule of law. Pho\u00adto by Lily Gold\u00adblatt.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Trump\u2019s expan\u00adsive inter\u00adpre\u00adta\u00adtion of exec\u00adu\u00adtive pow\u00ader, some experts see a bla\u00adtant dis\u00adre\u00adgard for the rule of law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s tough to describe how lit\u00adtle Trump seems to care about the law; I would say he just doesn\u2019t,\u201d said Dan Bar\u00adrett, legal direc\u00adtor of the Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut ACLU. \u201cHe views it as an exter\u00adnal\u00adi\u00adty, it\u2019s just some\u00adthing that affects oth\u00ader peo\u00adple because the way in which he\u2019s attempt\u00ading to change the law itself vio\u00adlates the law, and the sub\u00adstance almost always does as well.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion has chal\u00adlenged the pow\u00ader of the judi\u00adcial branch, includ\u00ading ignor\u00ading a court order in a fight over depor\u00adta\u00adtion flights, and has ques\u00adtioned the author\u00adi\u00adty of judges to rule on the administration\u2019s actions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJudges aren\u2019t allowed to con\u00adtrol the executive\u2019s legit\u00adi\u00admate pow\u00ader,\u201d Vice Pres\u00adi\u00addent J.D. Vance said in a post<\/a> on social media plat\u00adform X in Feb\u00adru\u00adary.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A month lat\u00ader, House Speak\u00ader Mike John\u00adson, a staunch Trump ally, assert\u00aded the pow\u00ader of Con\u00adgress over fed\u00ader\u00adal court bud\u00adgets and the exis\u00adtence of fed\u00ader\u00adal courts.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do have author\u00adi\u00adty over the fed\u00ader\u00adal courts,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can elim\u00adi\u00adnate an entire dis\u00adtrict court. We do have pow\u00ader over fund\u00ading over the courts and all these oth\u00ader things. But des\u00adper\u00adate times call for des\u00adper\u00adate mea\u00adsures and Con\u00adgress is going to act.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vir\u00adginia Het\u00adtinger, a polit\u00adi\u00adcal sci\u00adence pro\u00adfes\u00adsor at UConn and expert on the judi\u00adcial branch, said that the cur\u00adrent attacks on the fed\u00ader\u00adal judi\u00adcia\u00adry are not unprece\u00addent\u00aded. The Supreme Court\u2019s juris\u00addic\u00adtion has been changed by Con\u00adgress before, but low\u00ader courts have not been elim\u00adi\u00adnat\u00aded. She said that these attacks threat\u00aden both the legit\u00adi\u00adma\u00adcy and integri\u00adty of the courts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the pub\u00adlic does not per\u00adceive the courts as legit\u00adi\u00admate, then will they fol\u00adlow those rul\u00adings?\u201d she said. \u201cAnd so then, what effect do attacks on courts have? And I think the threats are sig\u00adnif\u00adi\u00adcant, poten\u00adtial\u00adly, [and] it\u2019s true regard\u00adless of who the politi\u00adcian is mak\u00ading those charges. I think that there are some real, crit\u00adi\u00adcal con\u00adcerns about dam\u00adage to the insti\u00adtu\u00adtion.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump has also tried to change who counts as an Amer\u00adi\u00adcan. On his first day in office, he issued an exec\u00adu\u00adtive order that sought to end birthright cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship for babies born in the U.S. with\u00adout at least one par\u00adent who is a Amer\u00adi\u00adcan cit\u00adi\u00adzen or law\u00adful per\u00adma\u00adnent res\u00adi\u00addent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jon Bauer, a clin\u00adi\u00adcal pro\u00adfes\u00adsor at UConn Law focused on immi\u00adgra\u00adtion law, said that Trump\u2019s exec\u00adu\u00adtive order direct\u00adly chal\u00adlenges the Constitution\u2019s guar\u00adan\u00adtee that any\u00adone born in the U.S. is a cit\u00adi\u00adzen.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis exec\u00adu\u00adtive order just rad\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly changed what the courts have rou\u00adtine\u00adly held to be the mean\u00ading of the 14th<\/sup> amend\u00adment,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd not sur\u00adpris\u00ading\u00adly, in the cas\u00ades that have chal\u00adlenged the birthright cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship exec\u00adu\u00adtive order, all of the courts to hear those cas\u00ades so far have said that it is uncon\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal and beyond the pow\u00ader of the exec\u00adu\u00adtive.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Supreme Court is set to con\u00adsid\u00ader the issue of whether Trump\u2019s order to end birthright cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship is con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal some\u00adtime in ear\u00adly 2026.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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