On June 29, 2026, the Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in Trump v. Slaughter. On its face, the case asked a simple question: Did President Trump act lawfully when, shortly after taking office in 2025, he fired the two Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission? Much more was on the line, however, than two FTC seats. The case presented long-simmering constitutional questions about presidential power, the limits of Congress’ authority to constrain that power, and the future of so-called independent agencies.
In a 6-to-3 decision penned by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Court in Trump v. Slaughter held that the president had acted lawfully — and that statutory limitations on his authority to fire the FTC commissioners were unconstitutional. This post briefly explains the Court’s decision and key takeaways from it.
Background
The FTC was created in 1914 through the passage of the FTC Act. The act provides for a bipartisan commission consisting of five commissioners… Read the complete article here...
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