Major Supreme Court 2025-26 case decisions
Politics — 2026-06-18 13:28:00 — www.washingtonpost.com
President Trump Seeks Sweeping Power Over Independent Agencies in Supreme Court Battle
President Donald Trump’s removal of Rebecca Slaughter, the last remaining Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission, has sparked a major legal battle that could reshape the balance of power between the presidency and independent federal agencies. The Supreme Court has allowed Trump to remove Slaughter for now, even though Congress designed the FTC to be insulated from direct presidential control by allowing commissioners to be removed only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.” Notably, Trump has not alleged any misconduct by Slaughter.
This case, Trump v. Slaughter, is a direct challenge to a 90-year-old Supreme Court precedent, Humphrey’s Executor, which has long protected the independence of agencies like the FTC, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board. Trump’s position—asserted through his removal of Slaughter—signals a push for far greater presidential control over these powerful regulatory bodies.
The court’s willingness to revisit and potentially overturn this precedent could have far-reaching consequences. If Trump prevails, he and future presidents would gain the authority to remove agency leaders at will, undermining the congressional intent to keep these agencies non-partisan and independent from political interference.
Fact-checking the record, the excerpt makes clear that Trump has not provided any evidence or allegations of wrongdoing by Slaughter, despite using his presidential power to remove her. This move is not based on claims of “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance,” but rather on a broader assertion of executive authority.
The outcome of Trump v. Slaughter will determine whether the president can unilaterally reshape independent agencies, potentially eroding decades of legal protections designed to keep them free from political pressure. As the Supreme Court considers overturning a foundational precedent, the stakes for the future of American governance could not be higher.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2025/supreme-court-cases-2025-26-term/