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NewsNBC San Diego — PoliticsJune 29, 2026California

Supreme Court Expands Presidential Power to Fire Agency Leaders

The Supreme Court ruled 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 Federal Reserve remains exempt.

Supreme CourtPresidential PowerFederal AgenciesFTCExecutive Branch
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Why It Matters

This ruling changes the legal independence of federal regulatory agencies by allowing the President to remove commissioners at will, potentially shifting how agencies like the FTC and NLRB enforce regulations.

Key Facts

  • The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the President can fire members of independent federal agencies without cause.
  • The ruling overturns the 90-year-old precedent set by 'Humphrey's Executor'.
  • The decision specifically impacts agencies including the Federal Trade Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Merit Systems Protection Board, and Consumer Product Safety Commission.
  • The Federal Reserve is explicitly carved out as an exception, meaning the President does not have the authority to remove its board members at will.
  • The ruling upholds the firing of Democratic FTC commissioner Rebecca Slaughter.
  • The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, states that subordinates exercising presidential power are subject to removal by the President.
  • Justices Sotomayor, Jackson, and Kagan dissented, arguing the ruling defies the Constitution and historical political practice.
  • Previous federal law restricted the removal of commissioners to cases of 'inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office'.
  • The ruling follows an emergency appeal by the Trump administration to halt lower court orders that had reinstated fired commissioners.

Who's Mentioned

personKetanji Brown Jackson“Dissenting Justice.”personDonald Trump“President who initiated the firing of agency commissioners.”otherHumphrey's Executor“90-year-old legal precedent overturned by this ruling.”personSonia Sotomayor“Justice who wrote the dissenting opinion.”personLisa Cook“Federal Reserve board member exempted from the ruling.”personJohn Roberts“Chief Justice who wrote the majority opinion.”personRebecca Slaughter“Democratic FTC commissioner fired by the President.”personD. John Sauer“Solicitor General who argued the case.”personElena Kagan“Dissenting Justice.”organizationFederal Trade Commission“Independent agency affected by the ruling.”