Roberts Court Poised to Give Trump More Power

The six Republican appointees who dominate the US Supreme Court appeared ready Monday to take a huge step in consolidating more American power around one person, the president, at the expense of Congress.

Under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts, who since his days as a lawyer in Ronald Reagan’s Justice Department has held a robust view of executive prerogative, the supermajority telegraphed its intent to potentially give Donald Trump control over dozens of independent federal agencies. In doing so, the court could partially or wholly reverse a 90-year-old precedent that Roberts and proponents of the “unitary executive theory” have long had in their sights.