Supreme Court Allows Trump to Fire Consumer Product Safety Commissioners

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of President Trump's authority to remove members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), overturning a lower court ruling that had reinstated Biden-appointed commissioners who were fired without cause. The Court's conservative 6-3 majority rejected the argument that commissioners could only be removed for neglect of duty or malfeasance, a restriction outlined in the 1935 Humphrey’s Executor precedent. While the Court did not formally overturn Humphrey’s Executor, Justice Kavanaugh suggested that an overhaul could be forthcoming. This decision allows the removal of the commissioners to proceed, despite concerns about undermining the CPSC’s independence and bipartisan structure, which was designed by Congress to protect consumers. Critics, including consumer advocacy groups and 121 organizations, warn that this ruling jeopardizes the agency’s ability to safeguard public safety and call for congressional action to preserve the CPSC’s autonomy. The ruling aligns with recent Supreme Court decisions upholding President Trump’s removals of members from other independent agencies, signaling a broader affirmation of presidential control over federal boards.