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NewsNBC Chicago – PoliticsJune 29, 2026Illinois

Supreme Court Expands Presidential Power to Fire Agency Heads

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the President has the authority to fire members of independent federal agencies without cause, overturning a 90-year-old legal precedent. This decision grants the President greater control over agencies like the Federal Trade Commission, though the court carved out an exception for the Federal Reserve.

Supreme CourtExecutive PowerFederal AgenciesFederal Trade CommissionConstitutional Law
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Why It Matters

This ruling fundamentally changes the independence of federal regulatory agencies by allowing the President to remove commissioners at will, potentially shifting the political direction of agencies that oversee labor, product safety, and consumer protection.

Key Facts

  • The Supreme Court voted 6-3 to allow the President to remove members of independent federal agencies without cause.
  • The ruling overturns the 90-year-old precedent set in 'Humphrey’s Executor'.
  • The decision specifically upholds the firing of FTC commissioner Rebecca Slaughter.
  • The court established an exception for the Federal Reserve, ruling the President cannot remove member Lisa Cook.
  • The ruling applies to other agencies including the National Labor Relations Board, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
  • The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, states that subordinates exercising presidential power are subject to removal by the President.
  • The dissenting justices (Sotomayor, Jackson, Kagan) argued the ruling defies the Constitution and grants the President unprecedented power.
  • Federal law previously stated commissioners could only be removed for 'inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office'.

Who's Mentioned

organizationFederal Trade Commission“Independent agency affected by the ruling.”otherHumphrey’s Executor“90-year-old legal precedent overturned by this ruling.”personDonald Trump“President who initiated the removals and sought the legal ruling.”personSonia Sotomayor“Justice who wrote the dissenting opinion.”personLisa Cook“Federal Reserve member whom the court ruled could not be removed.”personRebecca Slaughter“Democratic FTC commissioner fired by the President.”personElena Kagan“Dissenting Justice.”personKetanji Brown Jackson“Dissenting Justice.”personJohn Roberts“Chief Justice who wrote the majority opinion.”personD. John Sauer“Solicitor General who argued the case for the administration.”