So-called independent agencies will no longer be able to exert executive powers without first consulting with Donald Trump, the duly elected president of the United States. This includes agencies that have regulatory control over Big Tech platforms.
The changes came after Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to ensure “accountability” across the federal government, including the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission, agencies now led by Brendan Carr and Andrew Ferguson, respectively. The order marks a sharp departure from past administrations, which allowed these federal entities to turn a blind eye as Big Tech platforms censored Americans.
Flashback: MRC President Brent Bozell Praises Trump for ‘Bringing Free Speech Back’
“These regulatory agencies currently exercise substantial executive authority without sufficient accountability to the President, and through him, to the American people,” Trump wrote in the executive order reviewed by MRC Free Speech America. “Moreover, these regulatory agencies have been permitted to promulgate significant regulations without review by the President.”
Trump warned that the unchecked powers of the executive branch agencies directly undermine their “accountability to the American people” and disrupt the unified execution of federal law. “For the Federal Government to be truly accountable to the American people, officials who wield vast executive power must be supervised and controlled by the people’s elected President,” he continued.
The order requires the Office and Management Budget’s director to “establish performance standards and management objectives” for agency heads. It also mandates that federal agencies establish White House liaison offices.
In addition, these chairmen must now consult with the OMB, the White House Domestic Policy Council and the White House National Economic Council when implementing public policy. The president and the attorney general will provide the “authoritative interpretation of law for the executive branch,” according to the order, which clarified:
“No employee of the executive branch acting in their official capacity may advance an interpretation of the law as the position of the United States that contravenes the President or the Attorney General’s opinion on a matter of law, including but not limited to the issuance of regulations, guidance, and positions advanced in litigation, unless authorized to do so by the President or in writing by the Attorney General.”
The order, while sweeping at first glance, simply reaffirms the president’s authority over executive agencies. Unlike his first term, Trump is implementing a near forceful approach to enacting the people’s will following the 2024 election mandate.
Carr and Ferguson have voiced their willingness to work with the White House to protect Americans’ rights, including free speech. Carr, appointed by Trump to chair the FCC on Jan. 20, said he was “eager to accelerate the FCC’s work” and looked “forward to collaborating with the Trump Administration” to deliver results for the nation.
Related: MRC President Brent Bozell Endorses Free Speech Champion Brendan Carr for FCC Chairman
Ferguson echoed that sentiment in a press statement on Jan. 22, hours after his appointment to head the FTC: “Under the President’s leadership, we will end the previous administration’s assault on the American way of life, and we will usher in a new Golden Age for American businesses, workers, and consumers.”
It is no surprise that Carr and Ferguson—both free speech advocates—wasted no time launching investigations into Big Tech censorship, advancing Trump’s promise to end government-tied censorship, once and for all.
On Thursday, Ferguson began a formal investigation into Big Tech censorship, with one of his senior officials telling the Daily Caller: “In case there was any doubt, Big Tech is on notice. We do not intend to take our foot off the gas any time soon. The days of censorship and monopolies are over.”
Big Tech censorship is not just un-American, it is potentially illegal. The FTC wants your help to investigate these potential violations of the law. We are asking for public submissions from anyone who has been a victim of tech censorship (banning, demonetization, shadow…
— Andrew Ferguson (@AFergusonFTC) February 20, 2025
Carr has also launched an investigation into NewsGuard, a so-called media ratings firm, which MRC has previously (and repeatedly) exposed as biased against right-leaning news sources.
President Trump’s resolute and strong support for the free speech rights of everyday Americans is already paying dividends.
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) January 7, 2025
Facebook’s announcements is a good step in the right direction.
I look forward to monitoring these developments and their implementation.
The work… pic.twitter.com/kqmlSzmWPo
ICYMI: FCC’s Brendan Carr Launches New Big Tech-NewsGuard Probe, Cites MRC Study
Conservatives are under attack! Contact your representatives and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency, clarity on hate speech and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored, contact us using CensorTrack’s contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.
