US President Donald Trump secured a major legal victory on Monday after the US Supreme Court ruled that presidents have the authority to remove members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over policy disagreements, significantly expanding presidential control over independent federal agencies.
In a 6-3 decision, the court’s conservative majority held that statutory protections preventing the president from dismissing FTC commissioners except for misconduct, neglect of duty, or inefficiency are unconstitutional. The ruling marks a significant shift in the balance of power between the White House and independent regulatory bodies.
The case stemmed from Trump’s 2025 dismissal of Democratic FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter over policy differences. Slaughter challenged the move, arguing that federal law protected FTC commissioners from being removed without cause. However, the Supreme Court ruled that such restrictions violate the Constitution’s separation of powers by limiting the president’s executive authority.
Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that the case was “not a close one,” emphasizing that the FTC exercises executive functions by enforcing and administering dozens of federal laws. As a result, the president must have the authority to oversee and remove its officials.
The decision overturns the landmark 1935 ruling in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, which had long allowed Congress to shield leaders of certain independent agencies from removal based solely on political or policy differences.
While the judgment broadens presidential authority over much of the executive branch, the Supreme Court clarified that its ruling does not affect the independence of the US Federal Reserve.
Trump celebrated the verdict on social media, calling it a “BIG WIN” for presidential powers. He said the ruling reaffirmed the president’s constitutional authority under Article II to remove executive branch officials and agency appointees, describing it as one of the most significant decisions on presidential authority in decades.
The ruling also strengthens the constitutional theory known as the “unitary executive,” which argues that the president should exercise broad control over the executive branch, including the power to appoint and dismiss officials serving in independent federal agencies.
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