A White House fact sheet detailing the move highlighted that “so-called independent agencies” such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have wielded significant influence over the American population without proper Presidential oversight. These agencies, according to the fact sheet, have been issuing rules and regulations that carry substantial costs and touch upon some of the most contentious policy issues, all without the scrutiny of the democratically elected president.
Furthermore, the document pointed out that these agencies have been allocating American tax dollars, establishing priorities, and setting their own performance benchmarks without consulting the President. The fact sheet emphasized that moving forward, these agencies will no longer be able to implement rules on the American people without adequate oversight and accountability.
It is important to note that the directive does not fully extend to the Federal Reserve and its crucial monetary policy functions, such as the authority to adjust interest rates.
In a series of executive orders signed on Tuesday, President Trump also took steps towards fulfilling a campaign promise to make in-vitro fertilization (IVF) accessible at no cost for aspiring parents. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tweeted, “PROMISES MADE. PROMISES KEPT: President Trump just signed an Executive Order to Expand Access to IVF!” The order calls for policy recommendations aimed at safeguarding access to IVF and significantly reducing out-of-pocket expenses and health plan costs associated with such treatments.
During his campaign, Trump had vowed to make IVF free if he were to be reelected, amidst claims from Democrats that Republican opposition to abortion posed a threat to the accessibility of the procedure.
