[timr]

> but this isn’t how the law works, at all.

Not sure what you think “the law” is, but no, this kind of thing happens all the time. Both political teams do it, regularly. Biden, Obama, Bush, Clinton…all have routinely found an existing law or rule that allowed them to do what they want to do without legislation.

> The law, however, is not “first find the effect you want, then find a law that results in that, then accuse them of that.”

In this case, no, there’s no such restriction. The administration has pretty broad discretion. And again, this happens all the time.

Sorry, it sucks, but if you don’t like it, encourage politicians to stop delegating such broad authority to the executive branch.