Trump Fires Agency Commissioners, Testing 1935 Supreme Court Limits on Presidential Power
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 24
Trump Fires Agency Commissioners, Testing 1935 Supreme Court Limits on Presidential Power
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 24
Summary
Donald Trump has removed commissioners at independent federal agencies, directly challenging the 1935 Humphrey’s Executor ruling that limited a president’s power to fire certain regulators.
The move targets agencies designed to operate with insulation from White House pressure, including bodies that oversee monetary policy, securities markets, elections, and worker and consumer protections.
Trump and his allies argue those agencies function as an unconstitutional “fourth branch” and want them brought under tighter presidential control.
A successful challenge could weaken long-standing job protections for leaders across the Federal Reserve, SEC, FEC and more than a dozen other independent regulators, reshaping how federal rulemaking is controlled.
If independent agencies lose their autonomy, how might this change protections for consumers, investors, and federal workers?
How will shifting control over the Federal Reserve impact America's economic stability and the U.S. dollar's global standing?
As the SEC rethinks market rules, what new risks and opportunities will investors and public companies face in the near future?
Supreme Court’s Trump v. Slaughter Decision: The Future of Presidential Power Over Independent Agencies
Overview
The Supreme Court is about to make a major decision in Trump v. Slaughter, a case that could fundamentally change presidential power and the independence of federal agencies. Arguments were heard last December, and the outcome is causing anxiety among economists and business leaders because it may reshape how the federal government works. At the center is former President Trump's effort to remove Rebecca Slaughter from the FTC, which is part of a broader push to give the president more control over independent agencies. This ruling could redefine the balance of power in American government.