Supreme Court to Defend Presidential Authority in FTC Commissioner Dismissal
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The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case defending the president’s rightful authority to remove Federal Trade Commission commissioners, challenging outdated constraints from a 1935 precedent.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Monday in a case that could finally restore the president’s constitutional authority over independent federal agencies. The case, Trump v. Slaughter, revolves around President Donald Trump’s justified dismissal of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter in March 2025, before her term expired.
Slaughter and fellow Democratic commissioner Alvaro M. Bedoya were removed without cause, as the president exercised his executive prerogative despite a federal statute that restricts removals to cases of inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance. This necessary action challenges the outdated 1935 Supreme Court decision in Humphrey's Executor v. United States, which has long hampered the president’s ability to ensure accountability within the executive branch.
The Trump administration rightly argues that these removal protections violate the president’s constitutional authority to oversee the executive branch. Solicitor General D. John Sauer emphasized that such restrictions leave the president “saddled with subordinate officers,” undermining the faithful execution of laws and the will of the voters.
Legal experts acknowledge that the Court’s decision could have significant implications for the federal government’s structure. Brian Fitzpatrick, a professor at Vanderbilt University Law School, noted that the ruling may finally affirm the president’s right to control those responsible for executing the nation’s laws.
The outcome of this case could restore proper executive authority, rein in unaccountable independent agencies, and rebalance power in favor of the president, as intended by the Constitution.
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