Supreme Court cements Trump's power over agencies long considered independent

In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court has overturned a 91-year-old legal precedent that previously protected members of independent federal agencies from being removed at will by the president. This landmark decision marks a significant victory for the Trump administration, confirming the legality of the president's 2025 firing of Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, argued that subordinates exercising presidential power must be accountable to the president, effectively dismantling the longstanding protections established in the 1935 case Humphrey's Executor. The ruling essentially reclassifies commissioners at agencies like the FTC as at-will employees, undermining the historical congressional requirement for bipartisan commission structures. Liberal justices dissented, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor characterizing the move as an dangerous expansion of executive power that could allow the president to act in defiance of the law. This shift creates uncertainty regarding the independence of various other regulatory bodies, including the EEOC and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. While the Federal Reserve remains protected for now, the court's stance suggests a broader trend toward centralizing control over once-independent governmental functions. Supporters of the decision argue that these agencies were never truly independent, as they must fall under one of the three branches of government. Critics, however, fear the loss of agency independence will prevent merit-based decision-making and decrease protections for the American public. Consequently, the administration now has greater latitude to shape these agencies by removing opposing party members and leaving key seats vacant.