Remarks on Signing an Executive Order on Establishing the President's National Council for the American Worker
Issued 2018-07-19 by Donald J. Trump
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
On July 19, 2018, President Trump signed an executive order creating the National Council for the American Worker. This council brings together Cabinet secretaries, business CEOs, union leaders, and educators to focus on training and hiring American workers. The order establishes a White House group designed to coordinate workforce development efforts across different parts of government and the private sector.
The action affects workers seeking job training and education programs, as well as the companies and organizations involved in preparing Americans for employment. Major corporations like FedEx, Home Depot, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon participated in the signing event, along with representatives from trucking associations and human resource management organizations. The council includes several Cabinet members, including the Secretaries of Commerce, Labor, and Education.
The President has constitutional authority under Article II to create advisory councils and task forces within the White House to help manage the executive branch. However, whether such orders can fundamentally restructure existing government agencies or create bodies with independent regulatory power without Congressional approval remains a subject of legal debate. In this case, the council appears to function as an advisory and coordinating body rather than an independent agency with enforcement powers.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
This executive order ("Remarks on Signing an Executive Order on Establishing the President's National Council for the American Worker") restructures or establishes federal entities. The stated purpose: "that every American has the chance to realize their full-time potential." The President has authority to manage the executive branch under Article II, including creating task forces, councils, and working groups within the White House. However, creating independent agencies with binding regulatory authority, or fundamentally restructuring congressionally created departments, typically requires legislative authorization.
The Reorganization Act historically provided a framework for executive reorganization subject to congressional review. Current reorganization authority is more limited. The constitutionality depends on whether this order creates White House advisory bodies (acceptable) or attempts to restructure agencies in ways that conflict with their enabling statutes (questionable).
Official Summary
DCPD201800492 * {margin:0; padding:0; text-indent:0; } .s1 { color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-size: 12pt; } h1 { color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; font-size: 12pt; } .s2 { color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-size: 11pt; } .p, p { color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-size: 11pt; margin:0pt; } .s3 { color: black; font-family:"Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; font-size: 9pt; } Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2018 Remarks on Signing an Executive Order on Establishing the President's National Council for the American Worker July 19, 2018 The President. Hello, everybody. Oh! That's a good group. That is a very good group, I will tell you. I'm looking at these people, I see them on the cover of all the magazines every week, every month. Hi, Fred. <p class="s2" style="padding-top: 5pt;pad