President Donald Trump’s executive order grasping far greater control over independent federal agencies embraces a constitutionally questionable theory that presidents dating back to Ronald Reagan have considered – and ultimately rejected.

President Donald Trump is moving to give the White House direct control of independent federal regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission.

WASHINGTON—President Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday that seeks to give his political appointees far-reaching control over federal agencies that for decades have operated independently of White House influence.