Supreme Court expands Trump's presidential power by overturning 90-year-old ruling

WASHINGTON, DC: The Supreme Court on Monday, June 29, handed over unprecedented firing power to President Donald Trump, removing the protections for members of the Federal Trade Commission.

The landmark ruling expands presidential power by striking down statutory tenure protections for FTC commissioners.

Supreme Court backs Trump's authority to fire agency members

The precedent-setting verdict expands Trump’s control over independent agencies and overrules the 91-year-old decision that allowed Congress to shield members of certain independent agencies from being fired by the president at will.

The 6-3 decision gives Trump the right to sack Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, a Democratic appointee whose case became central to his effort to set aside constraints on his removal authority.

Certain independent boards and commissions that Congress had insulated from political pressure now come under the control of the president, as the ruling says that the president can remove officials from these agencies without cause.

The ruling is set to affect roughly two dozen multimember agencies across the government, allowing a president to appoint members who fit a particular ideological mold.

Supreme Court overrules 91-Year Humphrey's Executor precedent

In its 1935 ruling in Humphrey's Executor v United States, the Supreme Court said that Congress could bar the president from firing officials working with multimember agencies at will. These agencies enjoyed a degree of independence from the White House.

These agencies regulate vast swaths of American life, including labor disputes, federal employee rights, workplace discrimination, credit unions, product recalls, plane accidents, and more.  

“If anything more is left of Humphrey’s, we overrule it,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority.

Trump celebrates historic ruling

Trump revelled in the decision, posting on Truth Social: “This Decision was long sought by United States Presidents, dating all the way back to the 1930s.

"It is such an Honor to be the sitting President who won this Historic and Unprecedented Ruling, one of the most important ever given with respect to Presidential Powers,” he wrote.

After retaking the White House, Trump teed up the court to reconsider the ruling by firing independent agency heads across the government despite their statutory protections.

Chief justice says presidents must control subordinates

In the 6-3 ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority, joined by the other conservative justices. The three liberals dissented.

"Although it is up to the Senate to decide whether to confirm those with whom the President would prefer to work, neither Congress nor the courts may saddle him with those with whom he cannot work," Roberts wrote.

"Subordinates who exercise the President's power are subject to removal by him. Then, and only then, can they remain accountable to the President, and the President to the people," he added.