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NewsNBC Miami PoliticsJune 29, 2026Miami-Dade

Supreme Court Expands Presidential Power to Fire Agency Heads

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the President has the authority to remove 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 Court carved out an exception for the Federal Reserve.

Supreme CourtExecutive PowerFederal AgenciesFederal Trade CommissionConstitutional Law
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Why It Matters

This ruling changes the legal independence of federal regulatory agencies by allowing the President to replace commissioners at will, potentially shifting the political direction of agencies that oversee labor, consumer safety, and trade.

Key Facts

  • The Supreme Court voted 6-3 to allow the President to fire members of independent federal agencies without cause.
  • The ruling overturns the 90-year-old precedent set by 'Humphrey’s Executor'.
  • The decision specifically upholds the firing of FTC commissioner Rebecca Slaughter.
  • The Court established an exception for the Federal Reserve, ruling the President cannot remove Lisa Cook.
  • The ruling impacts other agencies including the National Labor Relations Board, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
  • The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, states that subordinates exercising presidential power are subject to removal by the President.
  • The dissenting justices (Sotomayor, Jackson, Kagan) argued the ruling defies the Constitution and grants the President unprecedented power.
  • Prior to this ruling, federal law allowed for the removal of commissioners only for 'inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office'.

Who's Mentioned

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