Supreme Court expands presidential firing power, overturning 90-year-old ruling

The Supreme Court has ruled that the protections preventing the president from removing members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at will are unconstitutional, overturning a 90-year-old precedent. This decision, stemming from the case Trump v. Slaughter, expands presidential power over independent agencies, which were previously insulated from political influence by Congress. The ruling challenges the 1935 decision in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, which allowed Congress to limit the president’s ability to fire officials from multi-member agencies without cause. The case involved Rebecca Slaughter, an FTC member fired by President Trump without cause, contrary to the law that established the FTC. Although lower courts initially sided with Slaughter, the Supreme Court ultimately allowed her removal. This decision could impact other multi-member agencies, as it sets a precedent for the president’s authority to dismiss officials without cause. QUESTION: How might the Supreme Court’s decision to expand presidential power over independent agencies influence the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in the future?