Trump Fires Officials at 13 Agencies as Supreme Court Expands Removal Power
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 29
Trump Fires Officials at 13 Agencies as Supreme Court Expands Removal Power
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 29
Summary
At least 13 independent agencies have already lost Senate-confirmed officials through firings, forced resignations or full board dismissals under Trump, wiping out Democratic majorities at nearly all of them.
The reshaping accelerated after the Supreme Court let Trump remove independent regulators despite laws that had limited that power, making many earlier temporary removals likely to stand.
At least four bodies were left without a quorum earlier in Trump’s term before he installed his own picks, and about a dozen other independent agencies could now face similar moves.
With federal watchdogs under direct presidential control, who now ensures government accountability and consumer safety?
What are the economic consequences when regulatory policy can be changed instantly by the executive branch?
As federal agencies are downsized, how will states and private industry fill the resulting regulatory and service gaps?
Supreme Court’s 6-3 Ruling in Trump v. Slaughter Grants Presidents Sweeping Power to Fire Agency Heads, Reshaping U.S. Governance
Overview
In June 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Trump v. Slaughter after President Trump fired FTC commissioner Rebecca Slaughter in March 2025, not for cause but because her service conflicted with his administration’s priorities. This unprecedented action challenged long-standing rules that protected agency independence by requiring specific reasons for dismissal. The Court’s ruling gave presidents the power to remove agency heads at will, overturning nearly a century of precedent and fundamentally shifting the balance of power, making federal agencies more directly accountable to the president and less insulated from political influence.