Part 4/12:
This independence has had profound implications: over the decades, unelected bureaucrats in these agencies have amassed enormous regulatory power, issuing thousands of rules annually—often surpassing Congress’s legislative output. They also adjudicate disputes and enforce penalties, creating an intricate and powerful administrative apparatus. These agencies claim to operate independently to safeguard objective policymaking, but in reality, critics argue they are ultimately accountable only to themselves and a political elite, disconnected from voters.