Can Trump claim total power over agencies that Congress did not intend to place under White House control, and what legal checks exist to prevent this?

There are two primary checks on presidential power over independent agencies. First is litigation, where interested parties can challenge presidential actions in federal courts. These cases begin in district courts and may ultimately reach the Supreme Court, though this process takes considerable time. The second and more significant check is Congress itself, as these agencies were established as independent by congressional design. When a president appears to infringe upon agency independence, Congress has the responsibility to stand up and voice objection, serving as the intended counterbalance in our governmental structure.