Reply #66: In this context, 'independent' means not a cabinet agency,

[elleng]

but a 'stand-alone' agency; does not mean independent of the industry it regulates (unfortunately.) Same with many other Fed. Gov. agencies, they becomes co-opted, and look out for 'interests' of those industries and not for the public. Also, does not have same 'control' of bad actors as DoJ/AG, but can only negotiate with offenders, can't indict without DoJ's specific approval and joinder.

Only 'control' a Prez has is through appointments to the agencies. President gets to select chairs of his/her party, and then to fill vacancies, as they occur, based on formula giving admin's party majority. Not possible to 'clean out nest of vipers,' really, imo, unfortunately.