Trumps Enabling Act

After the Nazis won the 1932 election, and Hitler became Chancelor, one further step was necessary to establish a Dictatorship. He needed the Reichstag to suspend any normal limits on Executive Power and grant him Supreme Power. The Enabling Act of 1933 granted such power over government and society.

The Enabling Act effectively suspended the Weimar Constitution and was the final step to dictatorship The Act, passed by the Reichstag [Germany’s Legislature]  forfeited stripped the Reichstag’s members of the authority given to them by the voters; the Enabling Act allowed Hitler to override laws passed by the legislature; and make his own laws. The Act also  allowed him to ignore the Constitution, and to ban and allowed him to ban and jail his political opponents. Hitler became a dictator.

Hitler did not become a dictator through a military seizure of Power. The Act was passed through proper procedure; there was no immediate declaration of Dictatorship. To the people it appeared like these events were done both with the best of intentions, and to meet the needs of many voters. Because of the great depression, as well as the ruinous effects of the punishment imposed on Germany after World War One, Germany was in crisis; many Germans wanted a strongman to solve their problems. Hitler did not unilaterally declare himself dictator. He did not need to. Ironically, many Germans approved of his early actions; Hitler did, in fact, restore Germany’s economy, and the persecution of the Jews was largely popular. .   

Unfortunately, the radical advisors guiding Trumps actions had learned the lessons of the destruction of Germany’s democracy; now they are using the lessons learned from 1933 to abolish American Democracy.  It is not being done secret. Much of the 2025 Plan is largely modeled on Hitler’s success. Russel Voight, the primary author and Head of the Office of Management and Budget, has in the past openly declared his goal of abolishing democracy.

The strategy to abolish democracy has four goals:

1. Usurp and assume much of the power of Congress, including the issuance of Laws, the determination of how and for what purposes Federal Funds shall be spent, creating and abolishing federal  agencies, the power to determine the statutory direct the mission of agencies.
2. Refusing to comply with federal court orders, and persecuting judges who rule against the Executive.
3. Abolishing the concept of checks and balances, and locate all governmental power in the executive; and
4. Use the power of the government to abolish or restrict all centers of public authority, e.g. prosecute or take over Universities, the Press, and powerful individuals or organizations who pose a threat to Executive power, such as law firms and political critics.        

Trump’s Executive Orders, collectively, mirror the power that the Enabling Act of 1933.

The above  goals have primarily been carried out by the use of Executive Orders. The Trump Administration has equated to Federal Laws; they have publicly asserted that violations of Trumps Executive Orders by private organizations is a violation of law.  Much of the American Press has largely accepted this claim, either through cowardice or ignorance.

It is important to stress, and shout from the rooftops that Executive Orders are not Federal Law and do not equate to Federal Law. The Constitution does not even authorize the use of Executive Orders; the Constitution grants Congress the sole Authority to make laws. Nor can an Executive Order overrule or conflict with laws passed by Congress. Executive Orders which have arisen by practice are the equivalent of orders Issued by the Chief Executive. By definition, they cannot apply to private citizens or organizations. They can only apply to Federal Employees or the employees of a corporation. In addition , the Supreme Court has ruled that it is unconstitutional to withhold federal funds from a private recipient because of their political activity or exercise of  First Amendment.

In its first 100 days Trump has issued Executive Orders which are similar to the provisions of the German Enabling Act of 1933, as well as violating e Constitution. For example: ,      

• In January, Trump issued Executive Orders claiming the Authority to overrule Congresses to authorize and direct the allocation of funds to Federal Agencies and direct the purposes for which those to those funds are to be used. In issuing these Executive Orders, Trump claimed the authority to refuse to spend money appropriated by Congress, and the power to redirect the purposes to which the funds would be spent. Unlike other Orders. Trump did allege a tenuous legal theory on which to base the action.; these Orders are directly contrary to the Constitution; there is literally no legal theory which could support these claims of power.
• Trump has repeatedly issue Executive Orders directing the Department of Justice to investigate individuals or organizations which oppose him. Thes Orders are specifically based on the Enabling Act, which granted Hitler such power.  
• On February 18^th,Trump issued Executive Order 14125, titled the  Ensuring Accountability  for All Agencies, requiring independent regulatory agencies—including the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—to submit their major regulations to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The order also mandates that these independent agencies set up new “White House Liaison offices and comply/follow the legal position of the President. This requirement also applies to all Federal Employees; although Federal employees swear an oath to uphold the Constitution, this Order may require them to violate that oath.
• These independent agencies were created by Congress to serve the public interest free from political interference. They are led by experts in their fields and are not meant to be subject to the political whims of any administration. Trump’s executive order is widely viewed as an illegal power grab that seeks to erode their independence and bend them to his will.  
• Moreover, some of these independent agencies, such as the FTC and SEC were created as specifically created as independent agencies by Congress in order to ensure their action partisan politics. No matter who is President, Trump’s order will lead to massive graft and bribery, and an abandonment of the public interest. Companies under investigation will learn that a political contribution is the best defense; this already happened with Elon Musk whose political activity resulted in more 30 federal investigations and prosecution being closed.
• Finally, Trumps mirrors power granted to Hitler by the Enabling Act. Several of his executive Orders have been used as a mechanism to punish organization and individuals who have opposed Trump. In addition, Trump has ordered the Department of Justice to prosecute his political enemies.  These actions emulate Hitler’s use of Power granted by the Enabling Act.

All of Trump’s activities have two significant differences  from Hitler’s exercise of power under the Enabling Act. Hitler’s seizure of power occurred during a legitimate social, and, once in power, the Nazi’s actually acted to resolve Germany. S crisis.  In contrast. Trumps claim of a National Emergency are ludicrous.

Finally, Hitler was granted his source Power by the Reichstag, which legitimized many of his actions. In contrast, Trump has to even bothered to obtain approval from a Republican Congress [which may have grated such power} Instead, Trump has seized these absolute powers. Perhaps his followers really believe in the divine right of kings.