Supreme Court Expands President’s Firing Authority

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, temporarily upheld President Trump's authority to remove Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board and Cathy Harris from the Merit Systems Protection Board, lifting lower court injunctions that had blocked the firings. The ruling marks a significant expansion of presidential power over independent federal agencies but is not a final resolution, as the issue remains active in lower courts. The majority argued that the Constitution grants the president broad authority to remove executive officers but did not overturn the 1935 precedent of Humphrey’s Executor, which limits such powers for certain agencies. Liberal justices dissented, warning the decision threatens nearly 90 years of agency independence. The Supreme Court clarified that its ruling does not apply to the Federal Reserve, maintaining special legal protections for its officials. Further Supreme Court review on the matter is expected.