The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that President Donald Trump can remove commissioners from independent agencies like the Federal Trade Commission without cause. In a 6-3 decision in Trump v. Slaughter, the court overturned a 1935 precedent. A separate 5-4 ruling in Trump v. Cook preserved limits on firing Federal Reserve board members.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion in both cases. The court held that presidents have broad authority to remove officials who exercise executive power.
The rulings overturned Humphrey's Executor v. United States, which had protected commissioners at agencies such as the FTC, SEC, and NLRB from at-will dismissal. Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, arguing the decision distorts the constitutional structure.
Trump welcomed the outcome on Truth Social, calling it a historic affirmation of presidential power. The decisions followed his March 2025 firing of FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, who had been nominated by Trump in 2018.
The Federal Reserve retained its protections after the court blocked Trump's attempt to remove Governor Lisa Cook.
