A regulatory expert said the directive will likely be challenged in court, as Congress has largely shielded some of the affected agencies from involvement by the White House.

Testing the limits of presidential power, Donald Trump this week tightened his grip on U.S. government agencies that for years have taken pride in their independence overseeing such matters as elections,

President Trump claims power over independent regulators in a new order. NPR asks Jane Manners, law professor at Temple University, why independent agencies were created to be independent.