The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for March 3, 2025
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
On February 18th, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order #14215, entitled “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies.” It claims Presidential authority over historically independent agencies – including the Federal Election Commission.
There are more than 50 agencies considered “independent” federal agencies, constitutionally under the executive branch, but structured by Congress to be insulated from day-to-day Presidential control. Three of those agencies play a critical part in federal elections: The Federal Election Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the U.S. Postal Service.
The bipartisan FEC was formed after Watergate to oversee campaign finance and rules. While often hamstrung as a policing agency, the FEC does require disclosure of campaign spending and donors – including the president
Donald Trump, his campaign, and billionaire donor and the head of the ad hoc Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, faced dozens of complaints before and during the 2024 election. Enforcement deadlocked along party lines – including the Stormy Daniels affair.
February 28th, the Democratic National Committee and the Congressional and Senate campaign committees asked the DC Circuit Court to strike down the executive order, arguing it interferes with the FEC’s ability to enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act as Congress intended.
Pro-democracy groups fear unchecked presidential authority could erode SOME oversight to NO oversight. We’ll explore how the role of the Federal Communications Commission could also be hampered in our next report.
Find more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – Trump Attempts to Fire Federal Election Commission Chair ‘Effective Immediately.’ It’s Not Legal.
The American Presidency Project – Executive Order 14215—”Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies”
Democratic National Committee – DNC, DCCC & DSCC File Lawsuit Against Trump’s Illegal Executive Order Ending Free and Fair Elections
Politico – National Dems sue over Trump executive order they say could weaponize FEC
U.S. District Court for DC – Democratic National Committee, DCCC, DSCC v. Trump
USA Today – Trump-Elon Musk interview violated campaign finance regulations, Democratic PAC claims
NPR – Trump wants more power over agencies. Experts worry about campaign finance regulators
Groups Taking Action
Brennan Center, Public Citizen
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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