US Supreme Court Examines Trump’s Authority to Remove Federal Agency Official
The US Supreme Court is reviewing a case that could reshape how much influence the White House has over independent federal agencies — institutions historically protected from direct presidential control.
The case, Trump v. Slaughter, began after former President Donald Trump removed Rebecca Kelly Slaughter from her position on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) earlier this year. Another Democratic commissioner was also dismissed at the same time.
Slaughter challenged the decision, arguing that the FTC law only allows commissioners to be removed for specific reasons such as misconduct, neglect, or poor performance — not political disagreements. She said she was removed because her views did not align with the administration’s policy goals.
A lower court sided with Slaughter, ruling that her firing was unlawful. However, the Trump administration appealed, and in September, the Supreme Court allowed the removal to stand temporarily while the case moved forward.
Trump’s legal team has argued that the president should have full authority over government agencies, even those created by Congress to operate independently from political pressure.
The FTC, established in 1914, was designed to protect consumers and regulate fair competition. To maintain political balance, the law states no more than three commissioners may belong to the same political party, and members can only be removed for cause.
Slaughter was first appointed to the commission in 2018 and later reappointed during Joe Biden’s presidency.
The case could affect other independent institutions with similar rules, including the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Reserve.
A key historical precedent in this debate dates back to 1935, when the Supreme Court ruled in Humphrey’s Executor that the president does not have unlimited power to remove officials from independent agencies, describing bodies like the FTC as “quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial.”
In addition to this case, the Supreme Court is also preparing to hear another challenge involving whether Trump had the authority to dismiss Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook.