Trump Strips THREE Extreme Dems of Oversight Powers: Here’s Why

President Donald Trump’s decision to remove three Democratic members from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) has raised concerns about the future of privacy protection and government accountability.

It had to be done.

At a Glance

  • Trump terminated three Democrats from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
  • The board now lacks a quorum to initiate new investigations or reports
  • Critics argue the move undermines the board’s independence and effectiveness
  • The decision follows a pattern of Trump removing oversight officials
  • Questions arise about the board’s future ability to protect privacy rights

Trump’s Removal of Democratic Board Members

President Donald Trump has taken a significant step that could impact the oversight of government surveillance and privacy protections. The President terminated three Democratic members from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB).

The dismissed members include Chair Sharon Bradford Franklin and Commissioners Ed Felten and Travis LeBlanc. This decision came after Trump had reportedly threatened to fire the Democrats if they did not resign by January 24. The board, which already had an open Republican seat, is now left with only one member, raising concerns about its ability to function as intended.

He’s doing more than he even promised to right this ship.

The removal of these members has significant implications for the PCLOB’s operations. With only one board member remaining, the agency lacks the three-person quorum required to initiate new investigations or reports. This limitation could severely hamper the board’s ability to carry out its crucial oversight role in mitigating privacy risks posed by government counterterrorism actions.

“Today, I regret that the Board’s partisan shift will ultimately undermine not only the mission of the agency, but public trust and confidence in the ability of the government to honor privacy rights, respect civil liberties, honestly inform the public, and follow the law,” Travis LeBlanc said.

“Partisan” they say. As if they haven’t been more partisan than ever before over the last ten years.

Despite these challenges, the board can still function with its full staff and continue current projects, relying on Beth Williams, the only current Republican member. However, the reduced diversity and potential partisan imbalance have raised concerns about the board’s ability to fulfill its original mission effectively.

Concerns Over Independence and Accountability

Critics of the President’s decision argue that it represents a significant setback for government transparency and accountability. The move follows a pattern of Trump removing oversight officials, including the firing of at least a dozen Inspectors General at federal agencies during his tenure.

“I am extremely distressed by the attack on our agency’s independence and the fact that our agency will now go into a sub-quorum period,” Sharon Bradford Franklin said.

Of course they’d say that…

The 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 stipulates that new board members must come from different political parties, ensuring a bipartisan approach to oversight. However, the White House has not yet commented on plans for new nominees, leaving questions about when and how the board will be reconstituted.

Maybe they’ll just choose…normal Democrats?