Supreme Court Temporarily Allows Trump to Fire FTC Commissioner Pending December Hearing

The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a temporary 6-3 ruling allowing President Trump to fire FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, a Biden appointee, while the case proceeds. This decision overturns lower court rulings that had protected Slaughter based on a 1935 precedent, Humphrey's Executor v. United States, which limits presidential power to remove independent agency officials without cause. The Court will hear full arguments in December to reconsider this landmark precedent that restricts presidential removal authority and protects agency independence. Trump fired Slaughter and another Democratic commissioner, Alvaro Bedoya, shortly after taking office, citing his constitutional authority over the executive branch, sparking legal challenges. The case raises significant constitutional questions about the balance of power between the presidency and independent regulatory agencies, with the Court's conservative majority signaling a willingness to expand presidential removal power. Justice Kagan and other liberal justices dissented, warning the ruling undermines congressional intent to insulate agencies from political influence.