The Republican Congress and the Erosion of Constitutional Power
A Shift in Power: Congress Ceding Authority to the Executive Branch
In a striking departure from historical norms, the Republican-led Congress is not merely observing as the Trump administration expands its constitutional powers—it is actively handing them over. This week, lawmakers embraced a stopgap spending bill that grants the White House significant discretion over federal funds, effectively transferring Congress’s spending authority to President Trump. This move is part of a broader trend: under unified Republican control, Congress is voluntarily relinquishing its oversight powers, economic authority, and constitutional responsibilities. By doing so, lawmakers are enabling the administration to operate with unprecedented autonomy, undermining the system of checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution.
Abdicating Oversight and Economic Authority
The consequences of this shift are far-reaching. House Republicans, for instance, have abandoned their ability to overturn Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. By inserting quiet provisions into a procedural measure, GOP leaders ensured that Congress can no longer challenge these tariffs, which are expected to have significant economic impacts on American businesses and consumers. This decision shields Republican lawmakers from politically difficult votes but erodes Congress’s constitutional role in shaping trade policy. Additionally, the administration has been upending federal programs and firing thousands of workers without consulting lawmakers, a level of unilateral action that would typically provoke intense oversight. Yet, no congressional committee has convened hearings to scrutinize these moves, signaling a troubling decline in legislative accountability.
A New Era of Compliance: Congress as a Subordinate Branch
This trend reflects a broader attitude among Republicans in Congress, who appear eager to cede power to the White House. Representative Michael Cloud of Texas encapsulated this mindset when he described the stopgap spending bill as giving the president “the keys” to continue his work. While Cloud and other GOP lawmakers frame this as a vote of confidence in Trump’s leadership, critics argue that it represents a dangerous abdication of congressional authority. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, a Democrat, condemned his Republican colleagues for “actively giving away” their constitutional powers, warning that the administration is already demonstrating a willingness to abuse the powers it has.
Historical Context: Congress’s Traditional Role as a Guardian of Power
Historically, lawmakers in both parties have fiercely defended Congress’s constitutional prerogatives. Article I of the Constitution establishes the legislature as the first branch of government, tasked with oversight, appropriations, and checks on the executive. When past administrations, such as Reagan’s or Obama’s, overstepped, Congress pushed back with investigations, lawsuits, and other measures to reclaim its authority. For example, in 1987, lawmakers created a bipartisan committee to probe the Reagan administration’s secret arms sales to Iran. In 2014, House Republicans sued the Obama administration over unauthorized spending on healthcare subsidies, securing a federal court ruling that reaffirmed Congress’s exclusive power over appropriations.
The Trump Administration’s Unprecedented Power Grab
Under Trump, however, the balance of power has shifted dramatically. The president’s iron grip on congressional Republicans—cultivated through personal relationships and the threat of political reprisal—has emboldened the administration to act unilaterally. Trump and his allies, including billionaire Elon Musk, have shown open disdain for congressional authority, dismissing oversight efforts and ignoring legislative instructions. For instance, Trump has defunded the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) despite congressional appropriations, sparking legal battles over his authority to disregard funding decisions. Meanwhile, Republicans have stood by, celebrating these moves as necessary to bypass a “monolithic” federal bureaucracy.
The Democratic Response: Alarm Over a Powerless Congress
Democrats have sounded the alarm over the GOP’s complicity in this power grab. Senator Patty Murray of Washington accused House Republicans of enabling “lawlessness” by advancing a spending bill without the usual guardrails on executive spending. Representative Richard Neal of Massachusetts criticized Republicans for abandoning their constitutional duty to oversee trade policy, calling them “cowards” who reflexively defer to Trump. Despite these concerns, the stopgap spending bill is likely to advance, with Senate Democrats reluctantly supporting it to avoid a government shutdown that could further empower the administration.
The Future of Congressional Authority: A Precarious Balance
The long-term implications of this trend are profound. Once Congress relinquishes its authority, reclaiming it becomes increasingly difficult, regardless of who occupies the White House. For now, Republicans seem unfazed by the precedent they are setting, prioritizing short-term political gains over the preservation of constitutional checks and balances. As the Trump administration continues to push the boundaries of executive power, the question remains: Will Congress regain its voice as a coequal branch of government, or will it cement its role as a subordinate to the White House?
