While Republican lawmakers often slammed President Barack Obama's executive orders, they have had little such criticism of President Donald Trump's use of those orders, according to Roll Call.
Executive orders bypass Congress, and Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., criticized Obama for "temper tantrum-like behavior" when he used them, Roll Call's reports.
"Most of these orders relate right now to the executive branch, and I don't think he's trying to legislate through them," said Cole. "If our Democratic friends think they'll do what we did—they'll take him to court and they'll win some and they'll lose some."
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said of Obama's orders: "It is behavior that undermines, and will ultimately erod, the foundation of our democracy and our freedom."
But of Trump's orders, Chaffetz said Congress would also need to pass legislation to make the orders happen. Obama's actions were "shortcuts" and "ill-advised," Chaffetz said.
"I don't see where it has encroached on Congress' authority at this point," Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., told Roll Call.
Trump signed the same amount of executive orders in his first month as Obama did his last month. While Obama signed 276 executive orders during his two presidential terms, former Presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan both signed more — Bush signed 291 and Reagan, 381, Roll Call reported.
"I'm not a big fan of hypocrisy. When you criticize the Obama administration for doing something, Trump does exactly the same thing and you don't criticize it, it is hypocrisy," House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said.
"They are letting him do what he will. The American people will make them pay for it," Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Md., told Roll Call.
The executive order Trump issued that put a temporary ban on immigration resulted in criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.
And U.S. tech firms have filed a legal brief opposing it.
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