Supreme Court expands presidential power to fire independent-agency chiefs
The Supreme Court ruled that presidents may remove leaders of independent agencies, overturning nearly a century of Humphrey’s Executor and giving future administrations greater control over agencies. Supporters, including Trump, praised the ruling, while labor unions and advocacy groups warned it undermines checks on power and democracy. The decision followed firings such as FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter and others, and the court also addressed Trump’s attempt to fire a Fed board member, Lisa Cook, noting the Fed should be treated differently. Dissenters, including Justice Sotomayor, criticized the ruling as abandoning settled constitutional law.