Trump Expands Presidential Power as Congress Shrinks

In his first year of a second term, President Donald Trump has issued more executive orders than all previous administrations combined, leveraged over 50 national emergencies and bypassed congressional approvals for moves in Venezuela (Jan 2026) and Iran (June 2025). Democratic critics and even some Republicans have called his conduct unconstitutional. Congress, once the primary law‑making engine, has been eclipsed by the executive branch, a trend accelerated by the 1973 War Powers Resolution and repeated presidential claims of executive privilege. The Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling granting presidents broad immunity now further protects Trump, though public opinion and congressional backlash remain key constraints on his actions.