The Power of the Purse II: Shifts in Power within Congress

Over the decades, the major institutions of our federal government have adapted to their assigned roles. When those roles undergo a dramatic change, as they are in the second Trump Administration, their internal structures must adapt. The changes may seem subtle, but new institutional habits can prove far more durable than most specific policy choices. And in each case, these internal changes are moving us toward a more belligerent and less functional government. My previous post showed how President Trump has wrested increasing parts of the Power of the Purse from Congress. I promised a follow-up post considering how that transformation is rewiring each of the three branches of the federal government and federal-state interactions. These are complex issues, and in the interests of readability, I am dividing this discussion into four distinct posts, beginning today with Congress. Congress is the biggest loser in the current realignment. President Trump’s approach here differs…