Summary
The US Supreme Court is examining whether President Donald Trump had the legal right to fire an FTC commissioner, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, who was dismissed for not aligning with his administration's goals. The legal argument focuses on a rule that federal agency leaders can only be fired for specific reasons like inefficiency or misconduct. This Supreme Court decision could affect how much control a president has over federal agencies.
Key Facts
- The case is called Trump v Slaughter.
- It involves President Trump's firing of FTC member Rebecca Kelly Slaughter.
- A law states FTC commissioners can only be removed for specific reasons, not for political differences.
- A lower court ruled that Slaughter's removal was illegal, leading to an appeal.
- The conservative-majority Supreme Court had previously issued an order supporting the firing until a decision.
- The FTC was created in 1914 to address unfair business practices, with rules limiting political influence.
- A historic 1935 Supreme Court ruling found certain federal agencies are independent of presidential control.
- The Supreme Court will also consider Trump's firing of Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
