Institutional Capture: This Is Not a Drill

Since January, we’ve witnessed a sweeping reconfiguration of federal power under the resumed Trump administration. What’s happening is not chaotic or improvised—it’s a calculated strategy unfolding with discipline and coordination across the machinery of government.

From the start, the MAGA movement made its intentions clear: institutional capture was the goal, not a consequence. Through both direct executive power and a constellation of outside allies, they are executing a real-time restructuring of governance. The stakes are not abstract—they are existential. What’s at risk is whether democracy in any meaningful form continues to exist in this country.

Too often, authoritarianism is framed as the rise of a single strongman. But that’s only part of the picture. What we’re facing is a system, deliberately engineered to dismantle democratic institutions and consolidate power in the hands of a ruling minority. This system reshapes how truth circulates in public life, shreds procedural norms, and uses the instruments of the state to punish opponents while protecting insiders. Over time, and without accountability, democratic erosion turns into something much more enduring: authoritarian consolidation.

We are experiencing a form of governance in which the executive claims authority above and beyond the law. We see this in Trump’s use of emergency powers, his refusal to carry out congressionally mandated programs, and his open defiance of court rulings. As this approach solidifies, we edge ever closer to competitive authoritarianism—a system where the outer shell of democracy remains, but its institutions have been hollowed out, manipulated to serve the regime rather than the people.

The conditions we face are unlike those of Trump’s first term. Legal threats to dissenters and whistleblowers have intensified. Internal watchdogs, inspectors general, and ethics offices have been stripped of independence or eliminated. Disinformation flows more freely. And the cost of telling the truth—particularly inside the federal government—has gone up.

The administrative branch has been a central target. This immense structure, often taken for granted, touches nearly every aspect of public life—from healthcare and food safety to education, infrastructure, and climate response. In the first few months of this term, the sabotage has been both deep and fast. Agencies have been flooded with false narratives, particularly around race and merit. Political appointees with no qualifications have replaced experienced staff. Entire departments have been emptied overnight. New hires face loyalty screenings. Data protections for the public are being dismantled, and internal surveillance is rising.

This isn’t about making government smaller—it’s about making it loyal and hollow. Laws are being openly ignored. Programs Congress mandated are being defunded or disregarded. Deportation actions have gone forward in defiance of court orders. Union contracts are being canceled, and court rulings are being openly flouted.

Yet amid this, there is resistance. Federal workers are organizing across agencies and roles—some openly, many quietly. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against the administration. Whistleblowers continue to emerge. And the public, while overwhelmed, still broadly supports the work of career public servants—especially those delivering essential services.

Outside the administrative branch, the story is more complex. Congress has been rendered passive. Even when key legislative mandates are ignored, the dominant political strategy among Republican leaders has been preemptive compliance. Democratic members are introducing legislation like the No Kings Act, but institutional leverage is weak.

The courts have become a battleground. The Supreme Court’s recent rulings expanding presidential immunity mark a dangerous turn, but many lower court judges—including some appointed by Republicans—continue to rule in defense of due process and legal constraint. Some have issued opinions that cut through the noise and name the stakes clearly.

The media is fractured. Major outlets like The Washington Post have narrowed their editorial focus in troubling ways but still offer critique. Disinformation dominates digital and cable spaces. Independent journalists, comedians, and civic media projects are speaking hard truths. The Atlantic, The New York Times, and local reporters continue to hold power accountable. In higher education, DEI programs and research are under attack, but faculty and students are mobilizing in new and important ways.

Philanthropy has been tentative, understandably cautious in the face of surveillance and potential retaliation. But some funders are stepping forward, recognizing the urgency of this moment. State and local governments, too, are mixed. Some are holding the line—pushing back with sanctuary policies, public investment, and legal coordination. Progressive states are working together through their AG’s offices and multiple governors have shown extraordinary courage. Others, however, are moving to dismantle protections under pressure or threat.

So where are we now?

Some institutions are captured. Some are compromised. Some are still resisting—but they are under siege. This isn’t just a crisis of politics. It’s a crisis of governance. And the strategy behind it is intentional.

Authoritarianism thrives not just on fear, but on resignation—when jailing opponents is brushed off as “just politics,” when coups are reframed as “protest,” and when the dismantling of institutions becomes a background hum. That’s how democracy dies: not in one stroke, but in a slow drip of normalization.

But institutions aren’t made of marble. They’re made of people. And what people build, we can unbuild—and rebuild.

The question is no longer whether authoritarianism is coming. It’s here. The real question is: what are we doing to meet it? And what are we building that can survive it—and outlive it?