Supreme Court to Decide on President Trump's Control Over Independent Agencies
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on a significant case involving President Trump's attempt to remove Rebecca Slaughter, a Democrat, from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This case challenges a 90-year precedent that protects members of independent agencies from being removed by the president without cause. Trump argues that the current arrangement is unconstitutional and that the president should have full control over the leadership of government bodies. Lower courts have ruled that Slaughter's termination was illegal, as federal law only allows for removal due to inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance. The case could potentially reshape the federal government by allowing presidents to terminate members of independent agencies at will, thus ending their independence.