SCOTUS splits on Trump’s firing powers; Fed independence preserved in separate ruling

The Supreme Court issued two major rulings on Monday: a 6-3 decision allowing Trump to fire an independent-agency official at the FTC, signaling a broader executive reach over independent agencies; a 5-4 ruling protecting Federal Reserve independence by requiring notice and an opportunity to respond before removing Fed Governor Lisa Cook. In a separate voting-rights update, the Court also allowed states to count mail ballots arriving after Election Day if they’re postmarked by Election Day, described as a narrow decision. Taken together, the rulings highlight ongoing tensions between presidential power, agency independence, and election rules.