Trump Prepares to Control by Executive Order After Congress Goes to Democrats, Media Reports After the Nov. 3 election gave Democrats control of both houses of Congress, the Trump administration is preparing to expand its use of executive powers to advance its agenda. CNN reports that the president's staff has been exploring ways to bypass legislative approval for months, and advisers say Trump is willing to expand the scope of presidential powers to achieve his goals. Senior officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Watt, have been working with the White House Legal Counsel since April on executive orders that Trump could pass without congressional approval, according to Reuters. The measures being considered include: immigration - strengthening law enforcement and toughening rules for issuing visas to foreign students and temporary workers; Tariffs - new tariffs on imports of critical minerals and wind turbines; Federal spending - updating grant rules to give political appointees more influence over how funds are distributed; Housing costs - measures aimed at reducing construction costs. The White House Legal Council is also working on "what Trump can legally do on his own, where he can push the limits of his powers and how to defend those decisions in court." Trump himself, according to Reuters, expects to be able to veto Democratic bills for "a month or two" before reaching compromises. “I guess I'll be Mr. Veto. "Then, at some point, we will probably make deals," the agency quotes him before the election results were announced. However, after the Republican defeat, Trump told Politico that he intended to "work with the Democrats."

Trump Prepares to Control by Executive Order After Congress Goes to Democrats, Media Reports After the Nov. 3 election gave Democrats control of both houses of Congress, the Trump administration is preparing to expand its use of executive powers to advance its agenda. CNN reports that the president's staff has been exploring ways to bypass legislative approval for months, and advisers say Trump is willing to expand the scope of presidential powers to achieve his goals. Senior officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Watt, have been working with the White House Legal Counsel since April on executive orders that Trump could pass without congressional approval, according to Reuters. The measures being considered include: immigration - strengthening law enforcement and toughening rules for issuing visas to foreign students and temporary workers; Tariffs - new tariffs on imports of critical minerals and wind turbines; Federal spending - updating grant rules to give political appointees more influence over how funds are distributed; Housing costs - measures aimed at reducing construction costs. The White House Legal Council is also working on "what Trump can legally do on his own, where he can push the limits of his powers and how to defend those decisions in court." Trump himself, according to Reuters, expects to be able to veto Democratic bills for "a month or two" before reaching compromises. “I guess I'll be Mr. Veto. "Then, at some point, we will probably make deals," the agency quotes him before the election results were announced. However, after the Republican defeat, Trump told Politico that he intended to "work with the Democrats."