SCOTUS Upholds Trump’s Firing of FTC’s Rebecca Kelly Slaughter
- Source
- NPR
- Time
- 3:30 PM
- Weight
- 95/100
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 that the president has the authority to fire commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at will, upholding the removal of Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter.
The decision effectively overrules the 91-year-old precedent established in Humphrey’s Executor, which had protected members of independent regulatory agencies from being terminated without specific cause, such as neglect of duty or malfeasance. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that subordinates who exercise executive power must remain accountable to the president to ensure the executive remains accountable to the public.