As Donald Trump and Elon Musk continue to run roughshod over the federal government with seeming impunity, there are at least three areas of restraint that could stand in their way, according to analysis by The Washington Post.
"So far the resistance has been minimal," writes chief correspondent Dan Balz. "Democrats have offered little opposition beyond rhetoric. Republicans in Congress have acted as if they are an extension of the executive branch rather than a separate branch of government."
What, then, can keep the two billionaires in line if the system of checks and balances fails to stop their "search-and-destroy mission designed as much to intimidate federal workers and exact retribution against perceived enemies as it is to make government more efficient"?
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Balz argues that the courts, the markets, and public opinion could act as restraints "even if Congress abdicates its constitutional authority and responsibility to act as a check on the power of the executive."
Balz notes that on Saturday, a federal judge blocked Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive Treasury Department material, including personal and financial data. And on Friday, a judge barred the administration from laying off an additional 2,700 USAID workers. Musk is said to be ready to defy the Treasury Department order, according to at least one legal analyst, and both judicial orders are only temporary. "How the judicial system, including the Supreme Court, will rule overall on Trump’s effort to expand executive power will be a long-running battle," Balz writes.
The financial markets could also be a major influencer as Trump continues to consider tariffs on allied countries like Canada and Mexico. Last week, the markets went haywire before Trump announced he was delaying the threatened tariffs on those two countries for 30 days. "Trump is a keen watcher of the stock indexes and will feel the effects if his tariff, tax and spending policies lead to higher interest rates, higher prices or slower growth," Balz writes.
And finally, Balz argues that public opinion could help keep Trump in check. Although he won the popular vote, Trump could lose public support if grocery prices and inflation continue to hurt the average American's pocketbook. So far, the president's approval rating remains relatively high at 52 percent, Trump could be persuaded to change his tune if that number starts to fall.