U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Trump’s Decision to Remove FTC Commissioner

(MENAFN) The US Supreme Court on Monday temporarily backed President Donald Trump in his decision to remove Democratic Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, blocking her from resuming her duties. The court's intervention came as it stayed a previous District Court ruling from July 17 that had ordered Slaughter’s reinstatement after Trump dismissed her in March.

Chief Justice John Roberts issued the temporary stay, allowing the administration to prevent Slaughter from returning to her post while broader legal questions surrounding the case are examined. The order noted that the stay would remain in effect "pending further order of the undersigned or of the Court."

The Court also directed responses to the administration’s application by September 15, as the case unfolds.

At the heart of the case is a critical question: Do presidents have the authority to remove members of independent federal agencies without cause? The outcome could potentially challenge the 1935 Humphrey's Executor ruling, which established the principle of regulatory independence. A decision in favor of Trump could drastically reshape the oversight of key economic sectors such as labor and broadcasting.

The FTC, a five-member body tasked with protecting consumers and enforcing antitrust laws, is designed to maintain bipartisan balance, with no more than three members allowed from the same political party. Slaughter, originally appointed by Trump in 2018 and later reappointed by President Joe Biden, is currently the FTC’s sole Democratic member, following Trump’s removal of another Democratic commissioner, Alvaro Bedoya.

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