# Cato’s Levy: Trump Administration Continues to Exceed Legal and Constitutional Limits 

Throughout President Donald Trump’s second term in office, his administration has continued to expand the powers of the executive branch

February 2, 2026 • News Releases 

Throughout President Donald Trump’s second term in office, his administration has continued to expand the powers of the executive branch. A new [blog](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Fexpansion-executive-power-addendum-iii-0/1/0100019c1eef040d-6530a852-a249-42a3-85fb-a2fb795e184c-000000/hZbyq5AyQACsVPbSKC53iZgZR7k=463___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjBhNjliNjY2N2U5Zjk2MjI0MTQxM2RlOTZmODg0MTU3Ojc6NDQ5MDowM2FlNWFjYmFmZjYwODFjODMxZjliZTg0YzVkMjlhODVlNTRkZTc2NDM5MzlmYTJmMjlkMjg4OGQzZGM3ODlkOmg6VDpO) post in a series of addendum’s from the Cato’s [Robert Levy,](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fpeople*2Frobert-levy/1/0100019c1eef040d-6530a852-a249-42a3-85fb-a2fb795e184c-000000/_qX_vRKv81jYpDpfo-hvwyr3KbU=463___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjBhNjliNjY2N2U5Zjk2MjI0MTQxM2RlOTZmODg0MTU3Ojc6YjQ4MTowOWQyMDljZTkyZmVkZjczZjY3ODJhODk3OTVhZWE0Nzk3MWM5ZTdmOWIzNjZhNTk4NTM1ZjBhM2Y4OTg1YTc5Omg6VDpO) details four questions about the limits of executive power:

- Can the president summarily kill drug dealers?
- Do soldiers have to obey illegal orders?
- Was the president authorized to seize Nicolas Maduro?
- Has ICE exceeded its immigration enforcement authority?

You can read Robert Levy’s previous addendums on the expansion of executive power below:

- [On the Expansion of Executive Power: Addendum](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Fexpansion-executive-power-addendum-0/1/0100019c1eef040d-6530a852-a249-42a3-85fb-a2fb795e184c-000000/Pk1xW1HbIlQGQEpIsAwCle_RjWY=463___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjBhNjliNjY2N2U5Zjk2MjI0MTQxM2RlOTZmODg0MTU3Ojc6NTU5NDoxNmFlNTMxNTIzOTE0NWRlOGM5MzVjZDI5N2JiMTM4ZGUzOThmZDJlODJjMzNhYzA1ODQ1YzUyZjc4NTM3MTYzOmg6VDpO)
- [On the Expansion of Executive Power: Addendum II](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Fexpansion-executive-power-addendum-ii/1/0100019c1eef040d-6530a852-a249-42a3-85fb-a2fb795e184c-000000/2R0Ni-KcEAvN_NtEVBhZe0bjj2o=463___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjBhNjliNjY2N2U5Zjk2MjI0MTQxM2RlOTZmODg0MTU3Ojc6Y2Q3ZDpiMTI3NmZjNDU0NzE1ZmE0ZmYxZWIzMjk5ZDI2ZDM5OWJhNWM4YTNhNGQ1NDg3ZGYxOWIxZWYwYWVhMWVmZDkxOmg6VDpO)

To speak with Levy further on the expansion of executive power under President Trump, contact [Christopher Tarvardian](mailto:ctarvardian@cato.org).

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