Trump’s blitz to expand his power is direct threat to democracy, experts say

Executive actions aims to test limits of president's authority and perhaps win backing from conservative supreme court

Donald Trump's spate of executive orders include many aimed at expanding his presidential powers in areas that pose threats to the rule of law and democratic norms in the US, say legal experts.

Trump's orders include the abrupt firing of 17 agency watchdogs called inspectors general without giving Congress the required 30 days' notice, the rejection of birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, which is guaranteed by the 14th amendment, and pardons for more than 1,500 people convicted for their roles in the January 6 Capitol insurrection.