Supreme Court Expands Presidential Authority Over Independent Agencies in 6-3 Ruling

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on 29 June 2026 to increase the president’s authority over independent federal agencies. The decision in Trump v. Slaughter overturned the 1935 Humphrey’s Executor precedent that had limited presidential power to remove members of such agencies.

The ruling stemmed from the termination of Rebecca Slaughter, a Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission appointed by President Trump in 2018. Slaughter received notice of her firing by email in March 2025 while helping with rehearsal for her child’s elementary school play. Alvaro Bedoya, the other Democratic commissioner at the FTC, was also fired that month.

Slaughter and Bedoya filed a lawsuit challenging the terminations days later. A federal judge reinstated Slaughter in July 2025, but the Trump administration appealed. In September 2025 the Supreme Court allowed her removal while the case continued and agreed to hear it.

Bedoya resigned because he was not being compensated. ” The White House did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Cathy Harris, who had been fired from the Merit Systems Protection Board, saw the Supreme Court deny review of her case after the ruling.

Deirdre Hamilton, a member of the National Mediation Board whose term had expired but who continued serving under statute, was fired in October 2025 and filed a lawsuit. Hamilton remains listed as a member on the board’s website and is awaiting an opportunity to respond to the Supreme Court decision.

The National Mediation Board administers the Railway Labor Act to prevent economic disruptions in the rail and airline industries.

Since January 2025 President Trump has fired more than 50 officials from federal agencies.