Supreme Court allows Trump to fire FTC member, major win for presidential power
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that President Donald Trump did have the authority to fire Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter.
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The 6-3 gives Trump and future presidents the power to remove members of supposedly independent federal agencies that carry out functions under the executive branch of government.
The majority, comprised of all six conservative justices, found that the FTC’s provision that commissioners could be removed by a president only for cause “is contrary to the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution.”
The ruling effectively overturns a key Supreme Court precedent known as “Humphrey’s Executor,” which had served as a protection for members of independent agencies from firing by a president.
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“The President may remove his subordinates at will,” Chief Justice John Roberts said in the majority opinion that he authored.
“The FTC unquestionably exercises executive power, and must therefore be controlled by the Chief Executive,” Roberts said.
