Trump’s new power to sack almost anyone

A Supreme Court ruling hands the US president sweeping control over federal agencies, and Justice Sotomayor warns of chaos ahead

US President Donald Trump

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M Santhananaban

It is deeply troubling that the US’s most mercurial, menacing and transactional president, Donald Trump, now appears to have been handed even more executive power over domestic affairs by the US Supreme Court.

He can now remove almost any federal employee for any reason he chooses. The only exception, for now, is the Federal Reserve.

In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the majority had replaced “90 years of proven, workable practice with a half-baked theory of executive power that is simultaneously all encompassing yet also subject to necessary but undefined exceptions”.

She added that the one thing that does appear to be clear is that “chaos will follow”.

Chaos already prevails in the wider world, despite Congress holding its own specified powers. Trump has used aggressive, profit-driven tactics against weaker countries.

Trump is not a typical US president. He seems to represent corporate self-interest more than the wider public good.

Let’s hope November’s midterm elections bring him some rest

Dato’ M Santhananaban is a former Malaysian ambassador with 45 years of public sector experience.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

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