Supreme Court Allows Trump to Fire Two Independent Agency Heads

The Supreme Court has temporarily allowed President Donald Trump to remove leaders of two independent agencies, the Merit Systems Protection Board and the National Labor Relations Board, marking a significant shift in presidential power over federal bureaucracy. The conservative majority emphasized that the Constitution vests executive power in the president, permitting removal of executive officers without cause except for narrow exceptions, while dissenting liberal justices criticized the decision as extraordinary. This ruling challenges a nearly 90-year-old precedent protecting the independence of key regulatory bodies, although the court clarified that this expanded authority does not extend to all agencies, specifically preserving the Federal Reserve's unique independence. The court declined to expedite a full hearing on the issue, leaving the case to continue in lower courts. The decision reflects concerns about potential harm to executive power if officials removed by the president remain in office during prolonged litigation. This development is part of a broader effort by Trump to increase control over independent federal agencies, raising important questions about the separation of powers and the future balance of executive authority.