Supreme Court Expands Presidential Power to Remove Agency Leaders

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on June 29 that the president can remove members of most independent agencies for any reason. The decision overturned the 1935 precedent Humphrey's Executor v. United States and upheld the earlier firing of a Federal Trade Commission member.

The ruling gives the president authority previously limited by Congress. It affects agencies that enforce antitrust, consumer protection, and product safety rules.

The ruling will likely keep in place the May 2025 firings of three Democratic commissioners at the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Consumer advocates said the decision removes safeguards at agencies that police fraud and dangerous products.

“Today's decision does more than undermine one agency. It completely reshapes our government, and that includes the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the watchdog that guards against dangerous products that injure and kill." — Courtney Griffin, director of consumer product safety at the Consumer Federation of America A White House press secretary previously stated the president has the right to fire people within the executive branch.”

One director said consumers lose protection when experts can be removed at will. Others called the decision a victory for constitutional separation of powers. They said agencies should remain accountable to the elected president. A former Federal Trade Commission member who withdrew from the lawsuit called the Supreme Court a venue that favors corporations over individuals.