US EditionThe Supreme Court seems likely to back Trump’s power to fire independent agency board members
The Supreme Court may overturn a 90-year precedent, allowing presidents to remove independent agency heads at will, potentially reshaping federal oversight and agency autonomy.
- On Dec. 8, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Trump v. Slaughter and appears likely to side with President Donald Trump in a case that could shift power from Congress to the president over independent federal agencies.
- The Trump administration is asking the court to overturn Humphrey's Executor v. United States , defending President Donald Trump's firing of Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, Federal Trade Commission commissioner, as Article II authority.
- Solicitor General John Sauer called Humphrey's a `decaying husk` and warned independent agencies wield enormous authority, while Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh flagged agencies exercising `executive power` and liberal justices cautioned this could `destroy the structure of government`.
- The court allowed firings to stand while litigation continues, with the U.S. Supreme Court weighing if federal courts deciding remedies can reinstate officials or must limit relief to back pay, as Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote earlier this year.
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted the Federal Reserve Board of Governors may deserve special treatment, and the court will hear Lisa Cook's removal case in January amid concerns about economic uncertainty, Chief Justice John Roberts' opinions have narrowed removal limits.
166 Articles
166 Articles
Supreme Court expected to greenlight any and all Trump firings
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Supreme Court’s six-justice Republican-named majority seems ready to make Donald Trump a King. And not just by giving him total, complete, and uncontestable control over every part of the federal government, including as many as 50 independent agencies, among them the National Labor Relations Board, which is what the GOP presidential denizen sought in briefs and in 2-1/2 hours of oral argument before the High Court on Decembe…
Trump wants to strengthen control of independent authorities. The Supreme Court is examining the lifting of an old precedent. The decision could have far-reaching consequences.
Court likely to side with Trump on efforts to fire FTC head
The US Supreme Court appeared likely to back President Donald Trump’s effort to fire the head of the Federal Trade Commission, a ruling that would overturn 90 years of precedent and threaten to further erode the independence of the Federal Reserve. The conservative-majority court is grappling with whether Trump can dismiss the leaders of independent government agencies over political or policy differences. A ruling is not expected until June, bu…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
