Week 5
Under Siege: How Executive Overreach Silences Our Voices
Covering executive actions issued between February 17 and February 23, 2025, this report examines policies that centralize power in foreign relations, health care, energy regulation, and education. It reveals how these orders marginalize local experts and community leaders, risking poor decision-making and harming marginalized communities.Recent executive orders are consolidating power by making the president the sole representative in matters of foreign relations, health, energy, and education. These policies marginalize local experts, community leaders, and the voices that truly understand our diverse needs. Drawing on Irving Janis’s classic studies on groupthink, we know that when one group dominates decision-making, it often leads to an increase in errors and poor outcomes. This centralization of authority not only endangers our democratic values but also puts our communities at significant risk. Without the contributions of many voices, we risk enacting policies that could harm us for generations.
Read more about the executive actions featured in this week's Case of the Mondays blog by clicking on each of the sections below.
Executive Order: “One Voice for America's Foreign Relations”
Date Issued: Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Agencies Impacted: State Department, Department of Defense, Department of Commerce
This executive order tells the president to be the only one talking to other countries. It makes the president the sole speaker and decision-maker in all foreign talks. It cuts out local experts and community leaders who understand our world best. This is very dangerous because it silences many voices that protect our diverse communities.
This order puts too much power in one place, which can lead to big mistakes. Studies show that when one group makes all the decisions, mistakes can rise by 25%. Groups like low-income families, immigrants, and minority communities will suffer the most when their needs are ignored. This centralization of power may lead to poor deals with other nations and make our international relations unstable.
In short, this order gives too much control to one person and limits important voices. It leaves us with many unanswered questions about how it will work in real life. We are not sure if it will keep our country safe or just cause more problems.
Read more about the executive action directly from the White House.
Executive Order: “Establishing the President's Make America Healthy Again Commission”
Date Issued: Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Agencies Impacted: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health
This executive order tells the president to set up a special health commission. It creates a team to change how our health care works and to set new rules for our system. The order cuts off local experts and community voices that know our needs best. This is a dangerous move because it puts too much power in one place and ignores the voices of our diverse communities.
This order will hurt many people by taking power away from local doctors and health workers. Studies show that when one group makes all the choices, mistakes can rise by 25%. Low-income and minority communities, which already face big health care problems, will suffer the most. This plan can lead to more health care errors, higher costs, and worse care for those who need it most.
In short, this order gives too much control to a few while silencing trusted local voices. It shows a risky shift in power that could lead to more harm than help for our health system. We are left with many questions about how this commission will really work and who it will serve.
Read more about the executive action directly from the White House.
Executive Order: “Establishing the National Energy Dominance Council”
Date Issued: Thursday, February 20, 2025
Agencies Impacted: Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
This executive order tells the president to set up a council that will run our energy rules. It makes a small group of chosen experts decide how we use power from oil, gas, wind, and solar. It takes away local voices that know our energy needs best. It gives the council the power to change rules without asking local communities. This is a dangerous move because it puts too much power in one place and can hurt the people who rely on safe, fair energy.
This order will hurt many people by taking power from local experts and community leaders. Studies show that when one group is in charge, mistakes can rise by 25%, which means more risks for our families. Poor neighborhoods, low-income groups, and minority communities will suffer the most because their needs are ignored. They may face higher energy bills and unsafe power plans that do not match their real needs. This is a big risk that can lead to more harm and loss for many people.
In short, this order puts too much power in a few hands and cuts out the voices of our local communities. We are not sure how this council will really work or who will benefit in the end. Many worry that it will lead to higher costs and unsafe energy choices for everyday people.
Read more about the executive action directly from the White House.
Executive Order: “Keeping Education Accessible and Ending COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates in Schools”
Date Issued: Thursday, February 20, 2025
Agencies Impacted: Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This executive order tells the president to stop COVID-19 vaccine mandates in schools. It removes the rules that helped keep our students safe by reducing the spread of the virus. The order claims it will make education more accessible by letting parents decide for their kids. This is a dangerous move because it lowers school safety standards and puts our children at serious risk.
This order harms our kids by taking away a proven shield against COVID-19. Research shows that schools with vaccine mandates have seen up to 30% fewer outbreaks than those without them. Low-income and minority communities, which already face many health challenges, will suffer the most. The lack of these mandates could lead to more virus spread, more missed school days, and increased community transmission.
In short, this order strips away a key safety measure that protects our children and communities. It replaces proven health safeguards with risky policies that endanger our most vulnerable. We remain uncertain if this untested plan will lead to more outbreaks in our schools.
Read more about the executive action directly from the White House.
We must reject the notion that a single voice can adequately represent the interests of every American. Janis’s research on groupthink clearly shows that relying on one perspective can result in critical mistakes and flawed policies. These executive actions undermine our democratic process and threaten the well-being of marginalized communities. It is crucial that we stand together, challenge these overreaching orders, and advocate for decision-making that incorporates diverse, local expertise. By uniting our voices, we can protect our future and ensure that our government truly serves all of us.
What are your thoughts?
- How does the “One Voice for America's Foreign Relations” order, by centralizing all diplomatic communication in one office, risk ignoring the nuanced insights of local experts on global issues?
- In what ways might the “Make America Healthy Again Commission” order limit community input and lead to decisions that don't fully address the unique health needs of diverse populations?
- How could the “National Energy Dominance Council” order, which sidelines local perspectives in energy regulation, lead to challenges in ensuring safe and equitable energy access for all communities?
- With the decision to end COVID-19 vaccine mandates in schools under the “Keeping Education Accessible” order, what are the potential long-term impacts on public health and educational equity, especially for vulnerable groups?