Supreme Court Allows President to Remove Heads of Independent Agencies

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that presidents may remove heads of independent agencies created by Congress without cause. The decision overturned Humphrey’s Executor, a 91-year-old precedent, and nullified provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

The ruling states that statutes passed by Congress cannot shield agency heads from removal by the president. Officials may now replace those leaders with political appointees regardless of prior congressional limits.

The court carved out one exception for the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors. A separate decision upheld protections for a board member previously removed via social media post. The ruling leaves intact the board’s independence and existing removal procedures for its members. The decision reallocates authority between the executive branch and Congress over agency leadership.