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To Build a Fire by Jack London

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Published: Jan 30, 2024

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Table of contents

Analysis of the setting, characterization of the protagonist, theme of survival and nature's indifference, symbolism and imagery.

• London, Jack. "To Build a Fire." 1902.
• Runkel, Tom. "Jack London's 'To Build a Fire': Epistemology and the White Wilderness." The Centennial Review, vol. 36, no. 4, 1992, pp. 483-499.
• Boulton, Agathe. "Reading Jack London's To Build a Fire with Sartre: Existentialist Roots of Ecocriticism." The Explicator, vol. 73, no. 4, 2015, pp. 251-254.

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To Build a Fire

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To Build a Fire

By jack london, to build a fire quiz 1.

• 1 In what current state does the story take place? Alaska The Yukon New York North Dakota
• 2 What is the man's name? We never find out Teddy Jack Manny
• 3 What is the name for a "newcomer in the land"? Outsider Ingenue Debutante Chechaquo
• 4 At what temperature does the old-timer tell the man is it dangerous to travel alone? Seventy degrees Fahrenheit below zero Zero degrees Fahrenheit Thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit Fifty degrees Fahrenheit below zero
• 5 What kind of dog travels with the man? A husky An English Cocker Spaniel A wolf A hound
• 6 Where is the man meeting "the boys"? Anchorage Henderson Creek Iditarod Nome
• 7 What is the man not "quick and alert" in, according to London? The passions of life The significances of life The things of life The heartaches of life
• 8 The man first worries about frostbite for which body parts? Nose and cheekbones Lips Ears Fingers
• 9 Why is the man's beard colored amber? It is the natural color Because his food has run into it Because his rum has run into it Because his tobacco has run into it
• 10 What does the man wish he had brought for his cheeks? Hot oil Fur A scarf A nose strap
• 11 What is the man fearful of as he walks along the trail? Bears Moose Wet snow Hidden springs
• 12 What does the dog do when it wets its feet and legs? It bites at the ice between its toes It whines It burrows into the snow It builds a fire
• 13 What does the man frequently do with his hands to warm them up? He beats them against his legs He rubs them against the dog's fur He blows on them He builds a fire
• 14 Where is the old-timer from? Sulphur Creek North Dakota Michigan Henderson Creek
• 15 What condescending word does the man first use for the old-timer when thinking about him? "Feminine" "Womanish" "Hardy" "Weak"
• 16 How, according to London, does the dog know about the danger of the cold? It has learned from the man It has studied the land It has lived in the cold for years It has inherited knowledge of the cold
• 17 What two words does London use in describing both accidents? "It came" "It happened" "It occurred" "It went"
• 18 Where does the man get wet up to? His feet His chest His waist His knees
• 19 Why is the man initially angry about wetting himself? He wanted to prove he could handle the Yukon on his own He fears frostbite It will delay him He hates water
• 20 What can the reader view the story's title as? An imperative A grammar lesson on infinitives An instruction manual A poetic phrase
• 21 How does London describe the second accident? As a "problem" As an "error" As the man's "fault" As a "mistake"
• 22 How does London describe the tree's avalanche? As a "projection" As a "series of causes" As a "process" As a "series of links"
• 23 How many matches does the man light at once? 100 Fifty Ten Seventy
• 24 Why does the man drop the matches? He sees they are burning his flesh He is afraid of using them all up He does not need them any more He feels they are burning his flesh
• 25 Why does the second fire go out? The man snuffs it out as he tries to protect it from a piece of moss The man gets it wet The snow falls on it again The dog runs over it

To Build a Fire Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for To Build a Fire is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

The author’s descriptions of the cold weather suggest that —

A. the cold should never be underestimated.

what motivations do the man's thoughts reveal? how could these lead to a dilemma that advances the plot

The man has hubris or pride. He thinks that he can outsmart nature and make it to the boys at Henderson Creek. He thinks he knows better than his very apprehensive husky and the old timer's advice. If the man respected nature he would have...

. Works of naturalism often address the theme of survival of the fittest. Give examples that show how London’s story develops this theme. What message does the story convey about the survival of the fittest?

Jack London specialized in stories about the wilderness. His running theme involved the raw majesty and power of the elements. Naturalism was London's mantra and this story is a perfect example of this. In "To Build a Fire" the setting is in the...

Study Guide for To Build a Fire

To Build a Fire study guide contains a biography of Jack London, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About To Build a Fire
• To Build a Fire Summary
• To Build a Fire Video
• Character List

Essays for To Build a Fire

To Build a Fire literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of To Build a Fire.

• Chain-smoking: Causality in "To Build a Fire"
• Realism: Compare and Contrast
• Literary Naturalism: A Comparison of Maggie: A Girl of the Streets and To Build A Fire
• Our America: The Abiding Question of Nation and National Identity in American Literature
• A War Against Nature: Instinct in "To Build a Fire"

Lesson Plan for To Build a Fire

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to To Build a Fire
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• To Build a Fire Bibliography

E-Text of To Build a Fire

The To Build a Fire e-text contains the full text of To Build a Fire by Jack London.

• Full Text of To Build a Fire

Wikipedia Entries for To Build a Fire

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• To Build a Fire: Novel Summary
• To Build a Fire: Pages 1-2
• To Build a Fire: Pages 3-4
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• To Build a Fire: Character Profiles
• To Build a Fire: Metaphor Analysis
• To Build a Fire: Theme Analysis
• To Build a Fire: Top Ten Quotes
• To Build a Fire: Biography: Jack London

To Build a Fire: Essay Q&A

1.  Outline the relevance of the title . The necessity of building a fire is the driving force of the latter stages of this short story because without fire, the man knows that he will freeze once his feet and legs are wet. When the fire he builds is extinguished by snow, and he still needs to get dry, the title becomes an urgent command as he knows he is facing death if he fails to re-build it. The title is repeated in the narrative and this reiterates its importance to the story and to the man’s survival. It also highlights how spare the story is as it focuses on one unnamed man and his dog; fire is instead made central because if one is lit the man will be able to live. The ability to build a fire is often cited as the reason why humans are superior to animals and suggests that humans are capable of mastering nature. In this case, nature overpowers the man and the story is a reminder that the ability to build a fire does not necessarily indicate humankind’s empowerment. 2. Consider the man’s treatment of the dog. The dog is used to being treated harshly by the man and is wary when the man changes his behavior in the hope of getting closer to kill it. It is ironic that the man’s previous cruelty means that the dog does not trust his kindness, and the man is critiqued and condemned for this. It is possible to argue that the dog is treated with more sympathy in the narrative than the man and the man’s cruelty is in keeping with his arrogance. The desire to master the dog by subjecting it to his will has a parallel with his decision to travel alone and both examples demonstrate a wish to subdue nature to his will. The dog, however, is depicted as a symbol of nature and unlike the man it has adapted to its environment. It is more aware of the dangers of travelling in this freezing temperature and the man’s cruelty to it emphasises his false sense of superiority all the more. 3. Examine the implications of the man not taking the old-timer’s advice. The old-timer, who is named as such by the man, has already imparted his greater knowledge of the area and how to travel in it before the story begins. It is of interest that the man does not heed this information because this highlights his arrogance as an outsider, a newcomer and as a younger man. The term ‘old-timer’ may be seen as condescending even if possibly affectionate and suggests that the man is not fully convinced by this help from the older generation. It is poignant and ironic that he only comes to realize the import of the advice once it is too late. 4. Analyse the use of nature and its relationship with humanity. By having the Yukon as a backdrop for this story, an extreme climate is used to demonstrate the potential force of nature and the insignificance of humanity. The freezing winter temperatures of north-west Canada are depicted as a sharp contrast to what the man has previously known and, therefore, remind the readers of how the will of man – and woman – is potentially under threat by the environment. Nature is given the role of the man’s enemy and the dramatic tension arises from the battle he has with the freezing cold. His attempt to survive in these conditions, and his failure to do so, mean that the story is given a final element of poignancy. As he approaches death and at first panics and then decides to sleep, it is possible at last to feel empathy for him. 5. Consider the style of this short story and how it affects the content. The style of this story may be described as spare and driven by the central premise of the man attempting and failing to reach the camp. Its sparseness is exemplified in the use of few characters and those that appear are not given a name. Only a character called Bud is mentioned in passing when the man wishes he had devised a protective mask as Bud had done before. The focus rests mainly on the man, the dog and their surroundings. The effects of the cold are given the majority of the space and this emphasizes how dangerous it is as well as showing the arrogance of the man in presuming he would be able to travel this distance without a human companion. Repetitions are used as a stylistic effect and this allows the attention to remain on the main narrative thread: that the man is in mortal danger from the freezing temperature and only realizes this gradually. His reported lack of imagination is re-enacted in the story to a degree at least, as the narrative is as purposely restricted as the man’s way of thinking. It is only when he accepts the likelihood of his death that his imagination comes to life. Similarly, it is only at this point that the narrative switches to encompass the scene of his death.

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To Build a Fire Essay Topics & Writing Assignments

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author and the publications of To Build A Fire. Where was Jack London from? How successful was he as an author during his lifetime? What differences exist between the two versions of the story?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the Klondike Gold Rush. When did the gold rush take place? How many people were involved? What environment did these people encounter? How is this period related in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the setting of To Build A Fire.What are the outstanding elements of the setting? How does the setting play a part in the plot of the narrative? What clues in the text reveal the setting?

Essay Topic 4

Analyze the imagery that the author uses in depicting the setting of To Build A Fire. Consider lines such as: “the spittle crackled…in the air.” How does this imagery develop the...

(read more Essay Topics)

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“To Build a Fire” by Jack London Essay

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Introduction

The brief basic plot of the story, works cited.

Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” has been greatly considered to be the foremost example of the naturalist movement and the conflict between man and nature. The protagonist of the story is the man who “was a newcomer in the land, a chechaquo, and this was his first winter” and he is the prime tool at the hands of the writer to establish his themes. (London, To Build a Fire). The main character in the story exhibits the most interesting characteristics in an analysis of the man-nature conflict worked out by Jack London and the man’s foolish confidence despite nature’s enormous power is described by the writer in the most convincing manner.

Thus, the story “To Build a Fire” presents the main character, the man, as involved in a fight with the natural powers including the cosmic, human, and bestial forces, foolish and regardless of the experienced people. The various instances of the story very clearly exhibit these characteristic aspects of the protagonist in the novel.

The story “To Build a Fire” is indubitably a wonderful narration of man’s fight against the natural forces and hence the characters display the elements of naturalism. The man in the story is presented as fighting against cosmic, human, and bestial forces. He underestimated cosmic powers and he is least worried about the lack of sun or the excess of cold and it turns out to be foolish. “He was used to the lack of sun…Undoubtedly it was colder than fifty below–how much colder he did not know. But the temperature did not matter.” ((London. To Build a Fire). Similarly, the man in the story overestimates the human powers.

As one of the studies on the story reveals, “Failing to understand that he, no more than his ancestors, is equipped to deal instinctively with the elements, he ignores the unique human faculty of reason.” (London. To Build a Fire: Biography). That is to say, he discounts the advice given by the old-timer on Sulphur Creek that “after fifty below, a man should travel with a partner,” (London) and by the time he realized the fact of all, he had lost all the sensation of the body. However, the most pitiable fact is that the man catastrophically discards the signals given by his own body persistently, which might make him more mindful of the danger.

The unnamed man in “To Build a Fire” who engages in a nine-hour trek across the Klondike’s ruthless winter landscape has been the most favorite tool at the hands of London to illustrate the exciting theme of his story. Thus, the writer sets the character making the journey alone, except a dog, disregarding the advice of an old-timer and ultimately freezes to death before reaching the destination, following various disasters on the way.

The man in the story, his features, fate, and the end, etc are closely related to the themes of the story and the following comment makes it clear. “The man’s behavior and his ultimate fate highlight the story’s themes of survival in the wilderness, the individual versus nature, and death.” (London. To Build a Fire Study Guide: Themes).

Another major characteristic of the character of the man is that he represents the existentialist quest in every man and no specific name given to the character has a great bearing on this. That is to say, London has not provided the central character any particular name, but simply refers to him as “the man” right through “To Build a Fire” and it has been to powerfully emphasize the theme of existentialism in the story.

“By not naming the character, London has placed him at an even greater distance from the reader within his deadly setting, thus isolating him all the more in a bleak and hostile universe.” (London. The Existential Theme in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”). In ultimate conclusion, it becomes evident that the characteristic features of the man in the story “To Build a Fire” are closely linked to the main themes of the story. The man with his important characteristics becomes the foremost aspect of the story in drawing the everlasting impression on the writing by London.

London, Jack. To Build a Fire. Read Print. 2006. Web.

London, Jack. To Build a Fire: Biography. 1876-1916. Web.

London, Jack. To Build a Fire Study Guide: Themes. Book Rags. 2005-2006. Web.

London, Jack. The Existential Theme in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire.” Lone Star College: North Harris. 2008. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2021, September 30). “To Build a Fire” by Jack London. https://ivypanda.com/essays/to-build-a-fire-by-jack-london/

"“To Build a Fire” by Jack London." IvyPanda , 30 Sept. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/to-build-a-fire-by-jack-london/.

IvyPanda . (2021) '“To Build a Fire” by Jack London'. 30 September.

IvyPanda . 2021. "“To Build a Fire” by Jack London." September 30, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/to-build-a-fire-by-jack-london/.

1. IvyPanda . "“To Build a Fire” by Jack London." September 30, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/to-build-a-fire-by-jack-london/.

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To Build a Fire

51 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Introduction

Before Reading

Reading Context

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

After Reading

Discussion/Analysis Prompt

Essay Questions

Exam Questions

Exam Answer Key

How do the different attitudes of the man and the dog highlight The Value of Natural Instincts ?

Teaching Suggestion: The third-person omniscient narrator in “To Build a Fire” allows the reader to know the thoughts of both the man and the dog. Students might track the man’s reaction to the setting and plot events, such as falling through the ice, as well as the dog’s reactions. Comparing these divergent understandings of the brutality of the setting can help students develop an understanding of The Value of Natural Instincts as well as The Dangers of Unimaginative Thinking demonstrated by the man.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who struggle with structured writing might benefit from a graphic organizer that includes a column to write down plot points, a column to write the man’s reactions, and a column to write the dog’s reactions. Additionally, students could be grouped and work together to focus on just one of the characters, with each group then sharing out to build a communal understanding of both characters.

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Most notably, local historical icon, Chief Spokane Garry, built numerous schools and long houses on what is now the park.

Today, the roughly 15-acre park is owned by the city and remains undeveloped, according to county records.

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Southwest of the intersection of Ash Place and Liberty Avenue, the project would share a property line with the city park, which is further southwest.

All 17 buildings will be three stories tall and each total about 1,900 square feet. Buildings will all host three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The project would include the construction of roadways. According to plans, developers want to extend Oak Street southward about 350 feet.

The extended Oak Street would then curve eastward to connect to Ash Place.

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The project is estimated to cost about $3 million according to submitted document.

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The structure will be three stories tall and total 1,200 square feet, according to a construction permit application submitted to the city of Spokane.

The site is at the intersection of Ermina Avenue and Rebecca Street, on the northeastern corner of the college campus. Due to its proximity to the Spokane River, the project requires a shoreline conditional use permit to ensure construction would not harm the waterway.

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The training facility is also required to remain “dry,” meaning the use of fire and water is unpermitted, according to city records.

The building and improvements to the site are expected to cost about $600,000, according to plans.

Spokane’s Burton Construction is the contractor for the project and Spokane-based Integrus Architecture designed it, plans show.

Tri-Cities Intermodal

Due to a lack of container availability, Tri-Cities Intermodal will utilize both trains and trucks to transport Washington goods like wine, potatoes, onions, apples and pears, according to a news release.

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The company has a long-term contract with Union Pacific Railroad, which covers 23 states in the Unites States, according to the release.

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Microsoft's investment into ChatGPT's creator may be the smartest $1 billion ever spent

ChatGPT and generative AI look like tech's next boom. They could be the next bubble.

The ChatGPT and generative-AI 'gold rush' has founders flocking to San Francisco's 'Cerebral Valley'

Insider's experiments: 

I asked ChatGPT to do my work and write an Insider article for me. It quickly generated an alarmingly convincing article filled with misinformation.

I asked ChatGPT and a human matchmaker to redo my Hinge and Bumble profiles. They helped show me what works.

I asked ChatGPT to reply to my Hinge matches. No one responded.

I used ChatGPT to write a resignation letter. A lawyer said it made one crucial error that could have invalidated the whole thing .

Read ChatGPT's 'insulting' and 'garbage' 'Succession' finale script

An Iowa school district asked ChatGPT if a list of books contains sex scenes, and banned them if it said yes. We put the system to the test and found a bunch of problems.

Developments in detecting ChatGPT: 

Teachers rejoice! ChatGPT creators have released a tool to help detect AI-generated writing

A Princeton student built an app which can detect if ChatGPT wrote an essay to combat AI-based plagiarism

Professors want to 'ChatGPT-proof' assignments, and are returning to paper exams and requesting editing history to curb AI cheating

Related stories

ChatGPT in society: 

BuzzFeed writers react with a mix of disappointment and excitement at news that AI-generated content is coming to the website

ChatGPT is testing a paid version — here's what that means for free users

A top UK private school is changing its approach to homework amid the rise of ChatGPT, as educators around the world adapt to AI

Princeton computer science professor says don't panic over 'bullshit generator' ChatGPT

DoNotPay's CEO says threat of 'jail for 6 months' means plan to debut AI 'robot lawyer' in courtroom is on ice

It might be possible to fight a traffic ticket with an AI 'robot lawyer' secretly feeding you lines to your AirPods, but it could go off the rails

Online mental health company uses ChatGPT to help respond to users in experiment — raising ethical concerns around healthcare and AI technology

What public figures think about ChatGPT and other AI tools:

What Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and 12 other business leaders think about AI tools like ChatGPT

Elon Musk was reportedly 'furious' at ChatGPT's popularity after he left the company behind it, OpenAI, years ago

CEO of ChatGPT maker responds to schools' plagiarism concerns: 'We adapted to calculators and changed what we tested in math class'

A theoretical physicist says AI is just a 'glorified tape recorder' and people's fears about it are overblown

'The most stunning demo I've ever seen in my life': ChatGPT impressed Bill Gates

Ashton Kutcher says your company will probably be 'out of business' if you're 'sleeping' on AI

ChatGPT's impact on jobs: 

AI systems like ChatGPT could impact 300 million full-time jobs worldwide, with administrative and legal roles some of the most at risk, Goldman Sachs report says

Jobs are now requiring experience with ChatGPT — and they'll pay as much as $800,000 a year for the skill

ChatGPT may be coming for our jobs. Here are the 10 roles that AI is most likely to replace.

AI is going to eliminate way more jobs than anyone realizes

It's not AI that is going to take your job, but someone who knows how to use AI might, economist says

4 careers where workers will have to change jobs by 2030 due to AI and shifts in how we shop, a McKinsey study says

Companies like Amazon, Netflix, and Meta are paying salaries as high as $900,000 to attract generative AI talent

How AI tools like ChatGPT are changing the workforce:

10 ways artificial intelligence is changing the workplace, from writing performance reviews to making the 4-day workweek possible

Managers who use AI will replace managers who don't, says an IBM exec

How ChatGPT is shaping industries: 

ChatGPT is coming for classrooms, hospitals, marketing departments, and everything else as the next great startup boom emerges

Marketing teams are using AI to generate content, boost SEO, and develop branding to help save time and money, study finds

AI is coming for Hollywood. 'It's amazing to see the sophistication of the images,' one of Christopher Nolan's VFX guy says.

AI is going to offer every student a personalized tutor, founder of Khan Academy says

A law firm was fined $5,000 after one of its lawyers used ChatGPT to write a court brief riddled with fake case references

How workers are using ChatGPT to boost productivity:  

CheatGPT: The hidden wave of employees using AI on the sly

I used ChatGPT to talk to my boss for a week and she didn't notice. Here are the other ways I use it daily to get work done.

I'm a high school math and science teacher who uses ChatGPT, and it's made my job much easier

Amazon employees are already using ChatGPT for software coding. They also found the AI chatbot can answer tricky AWS customer questions and write cloud training materials.

How 6 workers are using ChatGPT to make their jobs easier

I'm a freelance editor who's embraced working with AI content. Here's how I do it and what I charge.

How people are using ChatGPT to make money:

How ChatGPT and other AI tools are helping workers make more money

Here are 5 ways ChatGPT helps me make money and complete time-consuming tasks for my business

ChatGPT course instruction is the newest side hustle on the market. Meet the teachers making thousands from the lucrative gig.

People are using ChatGPT and other AI bots to work side hustles and earn thousands of dollars — check out these 8 freelancing gigs

A guy tried using ChatGPT to turn $100 into a business making 'as much money as possible.' Here are the first 4 steps the AI chatbot gave him

We used ChatGPT to build a 7-figure newsletter. Here's how it makes our jobs easier.

I use ChatGPT and it's like having a 24/7 personal assistant for $20 a month. Here are 5 ways it's helping me make more money.

A worker who uses AI for a $670 monthly side hustle says ChatGPT has 'cut her research time in half'

How companies are navigating ChatGPT: 

From Salesforce to Air India, here are the companies that are using ChatGPT

Amazon, Apple, and 12 other major companies that have restricted employees from using ChatGPT

A consultant used ChatGPT to free up time so she could focus on pitching clients. She landed $128,000 worth of new contracts in just 3 months.

Luminary, an AI-generated pop-up restaurant, just opened in Australia. Here's what's on the menu, from bioluminescent calamari to chocolate mousse.

A CEO is spending more than $2,000 a month on ChatGPT Plus accounts for all of his employees, and he says it's saving 'hours' of time

How people are using ChatGPT in their personal lives:

ChatGPT planned a family vacation to Costa Rica. A travel adviser found 3 glaring reasons why AI won't replace experts anytime soon.

A man who hated cardio asked ChatGPT to get him into running. Now, he's hooked — and he's lost 26 pounds.

A computer engineering student is using ChatGPT to overcome learning challenges linked to her dyslexia

How a coder used ChatGPT to find an apartment in Berlin in 2 weeks after struggling for months

Food blogger Nisha Vora tried ChatGPT to create a curry recipe. She says it's clear the instructions lacked a human touch — here's how.

Men are using AI to land more dates with better profiles and personalized messages, study finds

Lawsuits against OpenAI:

OpenAI could face a plagiarism lawsuit from The New York Times as tense negotiations threaten to boil over, report says

This is why comedian Sarah Silverman is suing OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT

2 authors say OpenAI 'ingested' their books to train ChatGPT. Now they're suing, and a 'wave' of similar court cases may follow.

A lawsuit claims OpenAI stole 'massive amounts of personal data,' including medical records and information about children, to train ChatGPT

A radio host is suing OpenAI for defamation, alleging that ChatGPT created a false legal document that accused him of 'defrauding and embezzling funds'

Tips on how to write better ChatGPT prompts:

7 ways to use ChatGPT at work to boost your productivity, make your job easier, and save a ton of time

I'm an AI prompt engineer. Here are 3 ways I use ChatGPT to get the best results.

12 ways to get better at using ChatGPT: Comprehensive prompt guide

Here's 9 ways to turn ChatGPT Plus into your personal data analyst with the new Code Interpreter plug-in

OpenAI's ChatGPT can write impressive code. Here are the prompts you should use for the best results, experts say.

Watch: What is ChatGPT, and should we be afraid of AI chatbots?

• Main content

Trump and Allies Forge Plans to Increase Presidential Power in 2025

The former president and his backers aim to strengthen the power of the White House and limit the independence of federal agencies.

Donald J. Trump intends to bring independent regulatory agencies under direct presidential control. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times

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By Jonathan Swan Charlie Savage and Maggie Haberman

• Published July 17, 2023 Updated July 18, 2023

Donald J. Trump and his allies are planning a sweeping expansion of presidential power over the machinery of government if voters return him to the White House in 2025, reshaping the structure of the executive branch to concentrate far greater authority directly in his hands.

Their plans to centralize more power in the Oval Office stretch far beyond the former president’s recent remarks that he would order a criminal investigation into his political rival, President Biden, signaling his intent to end the post-Watergate norm of Justice Department independence from White House political control.

Mr. Trump and his associates have a broader goal: to alter the balance of power by increasing the president’s authority over every part of the federal government that now operates, by either law or tradition, with any measure of independence from political interference by the White House, according to a review of his campaign policy proposals and interviews with people close to him.

Mr. Trump intends to bring independent agencies — like the Federal Communications Commission, which makes and enforces rules for television and internet companies, and the Federal Trade Commission, which enforces various antitrust and other consumer protection rules against businesses — under direct presidential control.

He wants to revive the practice of “impounding” funds, refusing to spend money Congress has appropriated for programs a president doesn’t like — a tactic that lawmakers banned under President Richard Nixon.

He intends to strip employment protections from tens of thousands of career civil servants, making it easier to replace them if they are deemed obstacles to his agenda. And he plans to scour the intelligence agencies, the State Department and the defense bureaucracies to remove officials he has vilified as “the sick political class that hates our country.”

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