“Democracy Talks” panel addresses executive oversight, polarization
Former United Nations (UN) Ambassador for Management and Reform Chris Lu discussed the role of the United States as an exemplar of democracy with Keough School Dean Mary Gallagher in a panel discussion on April 16. Their discussion, titled “Why American Democracy Matters to the World,” focused on the perceived threats to American democracy created by the Trump administration’s recent actions against Harvard University, efforts to cut government spending, and erosion of checks and balances.
Lu served as White House Cabinet Secretary and Assistant to the President during the first Obama administration and later as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor. From 2022 to 2025, Lu represented the United States at the United Nations, leading UN budget negotiations.
This panel discussion and Q&A was a part of the “Democracy Talks” series sponsored by the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative. Approximately 50 people were in attendance.
Lu began the discussion by explaining how the power of the president has increased over time, attributing this in part to the growing importance of national security and foreign policy. He alluded to the Trump administration’s cuts to government spending, implementation of tariffs, and the increase in the president’s power over wars that occurred after 9/11—examples of the executive branch exercising power that was intended, under Article One of the Constitution, to belong to Congress.
Actions such as these, Lu argued, have led to “a Congress that really … has not been as engaged as they should be.” He added, “It’s more challenging for a Congress of the president’s party to be an effective check. So, we are now in the moment to see whether the judicial branch can really be that check.”
Lu additionally connected this issue to the discussion’s larger theme, adding, “Our Constitution really is the foundation for so many other countries’ constitutions. … If we can’t make this work, it does call into question whether other less stable democracies can make it work.”
Gallagher then turned the conversation to the role of civil society in a democracy, asking Lu how to sustain it. Lu answered by pointing to the “informal set of checks and balances,” outside of those established by the Constitution. Lu mentioned the free press, nonprofits, universities, and civil society as examples. “I think all of those things are under attack in this country,” Lu explained.
As one such example, Lu pointed to the Trump administration’s withholding of federal funding from Harvard University. Lu explained that the government has the power to place requirements on grant recipients, but argued that the administration’s investigation of professors, students, and programs violates academic freedom.
Notre Dame has also faced concerns over potential decreases in government funding and has begun working with the Association of American Universities to lobby against further cuts. Additionally, university departments have been instructed to plan budget decreases of 5 percent.
Returning to the discussion’s theme, Lu and Gallagher discussed the way political polarization influences foreign perceptions of the United States. “It’s not just the polarization, but it’s the pretty radical pendulum swings we’ve seen in the last two shifts in administration,” Lu explained. He added, “The gridlock makes people wonder whether America’s democracy should be the model for other countries around the world.”
Lu touched on China’s growing influence in an interview with the Rover. Regarding China’s stake in the outcome of the war in Ukraine, Lu explained, “An appeasement of Putin, I think, is license for the Chinese to try something with Taiwan.” He continued, “Not resolving the Ukrainian situation in a way that, I think, protects Ukraine’s self determination and provides security guarantees, I think will simply open the door to China doing the same thing down the road.”
Lu additionally spoke about the democratic example of the United States, telling the Rover, “U.S. leadership in the post war era has been constant, and I think what underlies that is the strength of U.S. democracy.” He added, “We don’t always get it right, but we do live by a broader set of values that we try to follow here at home, and that makes it easier for us to project those values overseas.”
During the Q&A session, one attendee inquired about potential reforms that may take place after the Trump administration to rebuild American institutions and alliances. Lu suggested that similar reforms to those after the Nixon administration may occur. He explained, “After Watergate, there were a series of reforms that were put in place that changed how we finance elections, that changed the power of the president … reforms that sort of rebalanced the country, and I think rebalanced the system of government. I think that … could certainly be a moment going forward.”
“I fear that our [allies] are moving on without us right now. … I think those friends, those countries that we’ve been trying to curry favor with, are going to look for more reliable partners. And, frankly, at this point China is a more reliable partner than we are,” he added.
A global affairs student that attended the lecture shared her thoughts on the panel with the Rover, saying, “I appreciated Ambassador Lu’s clear-eyed comments on what will need to be done to repair the damage done to alliances, institutions, and democratic systems by the current Trump administration.”
The next “Democracy Talk,” titled “Prosecuting Power,” is scheduled for April 23 in the law school’s McCartan Courtroom.
Andrew Blake is a freshman studying political science and economics. He enjoys indulging in pleasures such as classical music and dino nuggies. He can be reached at ablake5@nd.edu.
Photo Credit: Keough School of Global Affairs LinkedIn
Subscribe to the Irish Rover here.
Donate to the Irish Rover here.
