Supreme Court to Hear Case That Could Expand Presidential Power Over Federal Agencies

The Supreme Court will hear arguments Monday in a separation of powers case that could significantly increase presidential authority and overturn a nearly century-old precedent limiting the executive branch's ability to fire independent agency officials.

The case centers on President Trump's March dismissal of Rebecca Kelly Slaughter from the Federal Trade Commission. Under current federal law, FTC commissioners can be removed only for "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office." Trump provided no such justification when terminating Slaughter.

The legal precedent at the heart of the dispute dates to a 1935 Supreme Court ruling that established protections for officials serving in independent agencies. This decision has faced sustained criticism from the Court's conservative majority in recent years.

Attorneys representing Slaughter argue that overturning the precedent would destabilize independent regulatory institutions designed to operate with some insulation from direct presidential control.

The Trump administration's position rests on a constitutional interpretation asserting that the framers intended the president to exercise broad authority over the entire executive branch, including agencies traditionally considered independent.

The outcome could reshape the balance of power between the presidency and federal regulatory agencies that have operated with statutory protections from at-will removal for decades.