#OPM's new rule—dubbed "Schedule Policy/Career"—will allow many career #CivilServants to be classified as "#AtWill" employees, making them easier to remove.

#Trump aides argue they need greater flexibility to fire civil servants who are *underperforming*, engaging in *misconduct* or *undermining* Trump's policy plans.

11/ The Trump administration’s legal justifications for this plan are unclear. They’ve claimed some deportations are tied to the Alien Enemies Act or executive powers, but this approach has no solid legal foundation. #AlienEnemiesAct #ExecutivePower #LegalJustifications

The removal of the migrants to the prison, known as #CECOT, has become a flashpoint in the admin’s skirting of normal #immigration practice & the role of the #courts in reviewing #Trump’s #ExecutivePower.

Just a day before the meeting between the 2 leaders, the Trump admin once again defied a federal judge’s order to bring back a Maryland man who was unlawfully deported to the prison.

>2 centuries later, the system…has comprehensively failed. The people & institutions that are supposed to check #ExecutivePower are refusing to restrain #Trump. We now have a de facto #tyrant who thinks he can bend reality to his will w/o taking any facts or evidence into consideration, & w/o listening to any contrary views. Although the economic damage…is easier to measure, he has inflicted the same level of harm to #scientific #research, #CivilLiberties, #healthcare, & the #CivilService.

Leavitt said the new #tariffs #Trump threatened #China with — totaling 104% levies — would go into effect at 12:01AM Wednesday, Eastern time, in the #UnitedStates.

Any such measure would face a tough path, needing enough support to overcome a presidential veto. And the #House may avoid having to consider it at all. Last week, the #Senate approved a similar measure to scrap the #tariffs that #Trump imposed on #Canada, but #HouseRepublicans moved preemptively to shut down the requirement that they vote on such a measure

On the topic of #Congress NOT having delegated this power to POTUS…

A bipartisan group of senators plans to introduce a resolution this week that would terminate the *national emergency* #Trump declared last week to introduce his #tariffs. A copy of the resolution shows it will be introduced by a handful of Democratic senators — Ron Wyden, Chuck Schumer, Tim Kaine, Jeanne Shaheen, Peter Welch & Elizabeth Warren — & currently just one Republican, Rand Paul.

Acc/to #Trump’s interpretation of trade laws, #BernieSanders told Greer, “the president can declare an emergency with any country on Earth.” He added, “That’s called #authoritarianism.”

Greer responded: “Sir, Congress delegated this power to the president.” ← they did not.

The hearing has concluded. Before it wrapped up, Sen #BernieSanders (I-VT) described himself as “not a great fan of unfettered free #trade” but called the national emergencies President Trump has used to impose tariffs against #Canada & other countries “a lie.”

Greer said #Trump directed that there will be no exclusions for the #steel & #aluminum tariffs or products made in #China, but demurred when asked how long #tariffs will be in place. “We have to take this step by step,” he said. “We have to take it country by country, to address these issues.”

Jamieson Greer, the US #trade rep, testified before the #Senate #Finance Cmte for >2 hours. Thom Tillis (R-NC) had some fiery & skeptical questions, asking if Greer’s in charge of the #tariffs or “whose throat I get to choke when it’s wrong.” He also sought to clarify if there will be any exceptions, probably on behalf of his constituents who depend on imported parts & components for their businesses.

Earlier, Sen #RonWyden of Oregon, the top #Democrat on the #Senate #finance cmte, assailed #Trump’s #trade policy as he grilled Jamieson Greer: “The U.S. #economy has gone from the envy of the world to a laughingstock, in less time than it took to finish March Madness.”

Greer, the nation’s #trade rep, responds that the US is happy to *negotiate* [extort] w/countries in ways that will reduce the US trade deficit. “It’s going to be country by country.”

#MarkWarner (D-VA) says that the markets may be up today, but he likens it to “a good day in hospice.” Since #Trump took office, more than $11 trillion has vanished from the #StockMarket.

#Republicans from #farming states have been put in a particularly tough position by the tariffs. “We all know #agricultural is usually the first place of retaliation,” Grassley says.

#Grassley says he has taken a vocal “wait & see” approach to #tariffs because he believes #Trump & Greer are using them as a tool to get fairer trade (nope). “If that’s not the case, level with me.”

#ChuckGrassley of Iowa, one of the few #Republicans who have signed on to #legislation opposing #Trump’s #tariffs, says in Greer’s hearing that he supports the president generally but believes #Congress has delegated too much authority to the president over #trade.

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/exclusive-trump-makes-aggressive-new-claim-of-executive-power-to-circumvent-the-senate

This is the article Mike referred to:

EXCLUSIVE: #Trump Makes Aggressive New Claim of #ExecutivePower to Circuvent the Senate

The flights suggest the #Trump admin may be growing more brazen in its defiance of judicial restraint. The #US #Constitution established the #judiciary as a co-#equal & #independent branch of government.

Trump has sought to *push* [illegally expand] the boundaries of #ExecutivePower since taking office in Jan, cutting spending authorized by #Congress, dismantling #FederalAgencies & firing tens of thousands of #FederalWorkers.