Cato Daily Podcast Trump's Open Disrespect for Law Could Be a Calculated Gamble
Feb 5, 2025
Walter Olson, a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, dives into the Trump administration's contentious relationship with legal norms. He discusses how ongoing executive actions may not just be oversights but strategic moves against established laws. Olson highlights the potential implications on governance, especially regarding immigration and civil service protections. He raises concerns over the judiciary's role in mitigating these actions and suggests that this could lead to a constitutional crisis, testing the limits of executive power.
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Widespread Disregard for Norms
- The Trump administration's disregard for established legal and constitutional norms is a widespread pattern.
- This pattern is more concerning than any individual action, affecting areas like civil service and international agreements.
USAID Elimination Attempt
- The Trump administration attempted to eliminate USAID, an agency established by law.
- Although initially created by executive order, later statutes formalized USAID's existence and functions, making its elimination legally problematic.
Testing the Limits of Power
- The Trump administration's strategy seems to involve testing the limits of executive power by overwhelming the system with numerous actions.
- This "flood the zone" tactic aims to see what actions succeed and establish a stronger position relative to other branches of government.