You are correct, the power was grabbed decades ago. The concern now is that we have someone in the White House who seems likely to make use of the power.
The idea is that the USA has existing policies in place that would facilitate a president (any president) in being a dictator. The fear is that we might (some day) have someone in the White House who would make use of these Executive Orders.
The similarity is to the constitution of the Weimar Republic in Germany. It wasn’t a bad document at all. But it did contain Article 48 — and that basically said that the German Constitution would be suspended if a state of emergency were declared. Well, Hitler was elected chancellor, the Reichstag building caught on fire, and Hitler said, “Okay. No more Constitution. I am the fuhrer and my word is law.”
Completely legal and in accordance with government mandates put in place by others.
PART VIII - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 801. Definitions. In addition to the definitions in section 702 of the Act, 50 U.S.C. App. 2152, the following definitions apply throughout this order:
(a) “Civil transportation” includes movement of persons and property by all modes of transportation in interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce within the United States, its territories and possessions, and the District of Columbia, and related public storage and warehousing, ports, services, equipment and facilities, such as transportation carrier shop and repair facilities. “Civil transportation” also shall include direction, control, and coordination of civil transportation capacity REGARDLESS OF OWNERSHIP.”
The last phrase is critical, regardless of who else may have issued this.