US Supreme Court Expands Presidential Power Over Government Agencies

The United States Supreme Court has made a significant decision that changes how the president interacts with independent government agencies. In a 6-3 ruling, the court decided that President Donald Trump had the legal authority to fire Rebecca Slaughter, a member of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in March 2025. This decision effectively ends a 91-year-old legal precedent known as Humphrey’s Executor, which had previously prevented presidents from removing leaders of these agencies unless there was a serious reason, such as neglect of duty or illegal behavior.

According to The Guardian, the FTC is an agency responsible for enforcing laws that protect consumers and ensure fair competition in the market. To keep the agency free from political pressure, Congress had designed it with five commissioners from both political parties, with rules limiting how they could be hired or fired. When President Trump fired Slaughter, he did not provide a specific reason related to her performance. Instead, he told her that keeping her in the position was "inconsistent with the administration’s priorities." Slaughter then sued the administration, arguing that her removal was unlawful. While a lower court initially agreed with her, the Supreme Court has now overruled that position.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, argued that the president must be able to work with people who support his goals. He stated that subordinates who carry out the president's power should be accountable to him. However, this decision has faced strong criticism. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for the three dissenting justices, argued that the ruling was "grievously wrong." She warned that the court is giving the president a level of power that is not supported by the Constitution, effectively placing him above other branches of government that were meant to be his equals.

Despite this expansion of power, the Supreme Court also issued a ruling that limits the president's reach. In a separate 5-4 decision, the court blocked President Trump’s attempt to fire Lisa Cook, a governor at the Federal Reserve, which is the central bank of the United States. NPR reports that the court decided Cook can remain in her position while legal arguments continue in lower courts. Chief Justice Roberts noted that the Federal Reserve is different because its governors serve long, 14-year terms and are protected by law from being removed for political reasons.

President Trump celebrated the decision regarding the FTC as a "big win" for presidential authority. He claimed on social media that the ruling correctly confirms the president's power to remove executive branch officers. However, his reaction to the Federal Reserve ruling was much more negative. He described the court’s decision to keep Cook in her role as "strictly procedural" and suggested that he would take further action to address what he called wrongdoing at the agency. Trump has frequently pressured the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, and he has often criticized the bank’s leadership.

Legal experts and officials are now considering what this means for the future of other government agencies. Rebecca Slaughter noted that there are about two dozen agencies with a similar structure to the FTC. These agencies are designed to make important economic decisions without fear or favor. Slaughter warned that because of this new Supreme Court ruling, many of these agencies are now at risk of losing their independence. She expressed concern that the court is treating the Federal Reserve differently than other agencies, effectively giving the central bank special protection while leaving others vulnerable to political changes.

As the dust settles on these rulings, the debate over the separation of powers continues. The Supreme Court has clearly signaled a shift in how it interprets presidential control over the executive branch. While the president now has more freedom to choose his own team at agencies like the FTC, the court has shown it is not yet ready to remove all limits on that power, especially regarding the central bank. For now, the legal landscape of the American government has been fundamentally changed, and the long-term impact on how these agencies function remains to be seen.