FTC Commissioner Reinstated After Court Blocks Trump Firing

A federal appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump violated Supreme Court precedent when he fired Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter without cause, ordering her reinstatement. The court cited the 1935 Supreme Court decision Humphrey's Executor v. United States, which protects FTC commissioners from removal except for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance. The Trump administration had argued it could remove commissioners to align the agency with its priorities, but the appellate panel found no likelihood of success on appeal, emphasizing the importance of agency independence. The ruling upheld a previous district court decision that condemned Trump's removal as unconstitutional and maintained the delicate balance among government branches. While Commissioner Slaughter was reinstated, another fired commissioner, Alvaro Bedoya, resigned due to financial constraints during the litigation. The decision reflects ongoing legal tensions over executive authority and independent agency protections under the current administration.