One year into his unprecedented second non-consecutive term, former and now current President Donald Trump has presided over a dramatic and norm-shattering consolidation of executive power, leaving critics warning of a 'sprint toward autocracy'.
A Year of Unilateral Action and Institutional Overhaul
Since his inauguration on 20 January 2025, the 79-year-old president has moved at a breakneck pace to reshape the federal government and expand his authority, often bypassing Congress and long-standing conventions. His actions have ranged from gutting federal agencies and freezing congressionally approved funds to deploying the National Guard on American streets and issuing sweeping pardons.
"The imperial presidency has moved decisively and fully into the realm of domestic policy," Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota, told The Independent. Norman Ornstein, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, offered a starker assessment, describing the past twelve months as 'a sprint toward an autocracy'.
Soon after taking office, Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency, placing mega-donor Elon Musk in charge of a cost-cutting drive that eliminated entire agencies like USAID, forcing nearly 300,000 workers out of the federal government. He also froze billions in funding for universities, medical research, and foreign aid, much of it destined for Democratic-led states.
Weaponising Power and Targeting Foes
Trump's use of presidential powers has alarmed constitutional experts. In his first 100 days, he issued a record-breaking 124 executive orders, including controversial measures on birthright citizenship and voter registration. He has aggressively wielded his pardon power, granting clemency to nearly all 1,600 individuals charged in the January 6 Capitol riot.
In a significant break from tradition, the president has publicly pressured the Justice Department to investigate political adversaries. Following his public criticisms, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James were indicted by federal grand juries. The DOJ also opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
"Earlier administrations have done it, that’s for sure, but you don’t cure the problem by expanding the use of it," said former National Security Advisor John Bolton, who himself was indicted in October on charges of mishandling classified documents.
Military at Home and Abroad
Domestically, Trump has deployed the National Guard to multiple U.S. cities, actions often taken without the support of local officials. He has significantly ramped up Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Democratic states and threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy the military in Minnesota following protests.
On the global stage, the administration has authorised military actions in Venezuela, Iran, Yemen, Syria, and Nigeria. The raid in Venezuela led to the capture of ousted leader Nicolás Maduro. Critics argue these actions, along with threats to annex allies like Greenland and the imposition of sweeping 'Liberation Day' tariffs on dozens of nations, have pushed the limits of presidential power and endangered alliances.
A Muted Institutional Response
Perhaps most concerning to critics has been the weak response from other branches of government. The Republican-controlled Congress has held no major oversight hearings on the administration's most controversial actions, from immigration raids to foreign interventions.
"He has, by and large, a Congress of enablers," said former GOP congresswoman Barbara Comstock. The Supreme Court has also moved cautiously, often ruling in the administration's favour, such as permitting a temporary freeze on foreign aid.
Trump himself has dismissed concerns about constraints on his power. When asked recently what restrains him, he replied, 'My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.' With three years remaining in his term and a public wary of his bold agenda—54% in a recent Quinnipiac poll said he has exceeded his authority—the battle over the limits of presidential power appears far from over.
