Bureaucrats Aren’t Presidents

The accountability and authority of bureaucrats in relation to the President of the United States, specifically in light of recent legal troubles faced by high-profile officials. The author argues that the U. S. Constitution designates the President as the primary executive power and questions the claim that bureaucratic officials can act independently of the President.

1. Legal Issues with Former Officials: The article highlights various legal allegations against former high-ranking officials, such as Jim Comey, Letitia James, John Bolton, and others, emphasizing their potential accountability for actions taken during their tenures.

2. Media Framing: It criticizes the mainstream media for portraying these officials as above politics, suggesting that they act selflessly rather than politically. The author believes that if the public were aware of the political motivations behind these bureaucrats, it would challenge the legitimacy of a vast, unelected administrative state.

3. Constitutional Authority: The piece references Article II of the Constitution, which establishes that the President holds executive power. It underscores that all executive actions are derived from the President’s authority, contradicting the media's narrative that bureaucratic heads operate independently.

4. Presidential Control of Law Enforcement: The article argues that the President, not other officials like the Attorney General, is the chief law enforcement officer and that federal prosecutors derive their power from the President. The suggestion that they operate autonomously undermines the Constitution.

5. Concerns Over Bureaucratic Power: The author examines a hypothetical scenario where Justice Department officials could act without presidential oversight, indicating that this would disrupt the constitutional order and grant overreaching power to bureaucrats.

6. Historical Context: The text references events from President Trump’s first term, illustrating how bureaucracy influenced presidential decisions, particularly regarding the Russia Collusion investigation. It suggests that the pressure from Congress and media created a scenario where unelected officials had substantial control over presidential actions.

7. The Role of Bureaucracy: The conclusion emphasizes that the bureaucratic machinery prefers to limit presidential authority, effectively shifting the balance of power and suggesting that “experts” should make critical decisions rather than elected officials.

The argument conveyed in the article asserts that the President of the United States holds the ultimate executive authority, with bureaucratic officials functioning under that mandate. The article warns against the media and political narratives that promote the idea of an independent bureaucratic elite, which it argues undermines the structure of the American government as established by the Constitution. It calls for recognition of the President's role as the primary executive, insisting that accountability must reside with elected leadership rather than unelected bureaucrats. 

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/10/bureaucrats_aren_t_presidents.html