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Outcry over supreme court decision to grant Trump power to fire agency chiefs
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- The US Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. Slaughter that presidents now have the authority to fire leaders of independent agencies, overturning a 90-year precedent that limited executive power.
- This decision expands presidential control over independent agencies, raising concerns among labor advocates, unions, and consumer groups about potential long-term harm to democratic governance.
- The ruling followed Donald Trump's firing of Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, who criticized the move as politically motivated and reflective of fear over her independent voice.
- Critics argue the ruling undermines agency independence and regulatory integrity, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissenting and warning it disrupts nearly a century of constitutional balance.
- In a separate case, the Court ruled against Trump's firing of Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook, maintaining a distinction in treatment for the Federal Reserve compared to other agencies.
