WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday dramatically expanded presidential authority over independent federal agencies, ruling that President Donald Trump could remove members of the Federal Trade Commission without cause and overturning a 91-year-old precedent that had shielded such officials from at-will dismissal.
In a 6-3 decision in Trump v. Slaughter, the court held that statutory protections limiting the president's removal power over FTC commissioners violate the Constitution's separation of powers. The ruling effectively overrules Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, a 1935 decision that had permitted Congress to insulate multimember independent agencies from direct presidential control.
The case stemmed from Trump's decision early in his second term to fire Democratic FTC Commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya. Federal law had restricted removal of FTC members to cases of "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office." Trump acted without citing such cause.
Writing for the majority, the court concluded that the president must have the ability to remove principal officers who exercise executive power, including those leading agencies like the FTC. Justice Neil Gorsuch, in a concurrence, emphasized the president's constitutional duty to ensure faithful execution of the laws.
The decision extends beyond the FTC to roughly two dozen other multimember independent agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Consumer Product Safety Commission and others. It hands the president greater control over entities previously designed to operate with some insulation from political pressure.
Liberal justices dissented. They warned that the ruling upends long-standing structures intended to promote expertise and independence in regulatory decision-making.
In a related matter, the court carved out an exception for the Federal Reserve, allowing Governor Lisa Cook to remain in her position for now amid a separate challenge to her removal.
The ruling comes after the court, on its emergency docket, had previously permitted several of Trump's firings at other agencies to proceed while litigation continued. Oral arguments in the FTC case were held in December 2025.
White House officials welcomed the decision as a restoration of executive authority. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and some legal scholars, argued it risks politicizing regulatory bodies that handle antitrust enforcement, securities oversight and labor protections.
The FTC did not immediately comment on operational impacts. The decision takes effect immediately, clearing the way for the administration to install new leadership aligned with its priorities at affected agencies.
The case is Trump v. Slaughter, No. 25-332.
