The Bush administration last week increased the politicization of federal agencies overseeing key areas such as civil rights, the environment, public health and workplace safety by creating a policy commissar for each.

The effect of putting such a political gatekeeper in each agency, according to a New York Times report, is to ensure that all new rules reflect the president's priorities.

Mr. Bush's action comes as the trial of I. Lewis Libby Jr., former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, is showing Americans how the Republican White House puts politics and party ahead of priorities.

The reorganization of the regulatory functions in agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency is welcomed by business, which expects fewer and more comfortable rules under the setup. The beneficiaries of the new structure are also some of the GOP's largest campaign contributors.

Those screaming about it are representatives of outside organizations that watchdog the interests and rights of consumers, workers, minorities and environmentalists.

It's worth noting that the move is in line with efforts the administration has pursued to increase the power and reach of the executive branch -- the enhancement of Mr. Bush's image of himself as The Decider. A related phenomenon is his extensive use of signing statements to modify acts of Congress that have been passed and sent to him for signature.

The most dangerous power the president continues to allocate to himself exclusively is the right to escalate the Iraq war, in defiance of whatever Congress, backed by the American people, may desire. The greatest risk there is the possibility that he may decide, for whatever reason, to order an attack on Iran, setting off a major regional war in the Middle East.

In principle, the president has the right to reorganize regulatory agencies like OSHA and EPA. They remain, after all, parts of the executive branch. That does not, however, leave Congress powerless in the matter. As always, the executive may decree, but Congress has to vote to fund the agencies.

Congress has, however, been left between a rock and a hard place. Will it cut off the funding of these agencies because it doesn't like Mr. Bush's politicization? This is the same dilemma lawmakers face in deciding whether to deny the administration an additional $100 billion for the Iraq war and an extra 91,000 U.S. ground forces.

The solution is simple. Mr. Bush wants to make the decisions alone, in spite of what Congress may want. The only way to stop him is to cut off his money -- and Congress needs to exercise that power decisively, now.