Supreme Court Temporarily Allows Trump to Fire Biden-Appointed FTC Commissioner

The Supreme Court, through Chief Justice John Roberts, has temporarily allowed President Donald Trump to fire Biden-appointed Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, despite a federal appeals court reinstating her last week. Slaughter's firing challenges a 90-year-old Supreme Court precedent, Humphrey's Executor v. United States, which limits presidents' ability to remove FTC commissioners to specific causes such as misconduct. Lower courts have ruled both for and against Slaughter's reinstatement, leading to a legal back-and-forth as the Supreme Court considers whether to overturn or narrow this longstanding decision. Trump justified the firings by stating the commissioners' service was inconsistent with his administration's priorities, and the Justice Department maintains that executive branch agencies are subject to the president's control. Slaughter and another Democratic commissioner, Alvaro Bedoya, who resigned amid the dispute, have argued for the FTC's independence to protect public interest and enforce regulations free from political pressure. The case highlights ongoing tensions over executive power and the FTC's role in regulating business practices and technology.