Supreme Court Allows Trump to Fire FTC Commissioner

The Supreme Court through an unexplained order Monday allowed President Donald Trump to, for now, remove the last Democratic commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a decision that represents a grave threat to the independence of federal agencies.

The Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s request to stay an appeals court’s decision to reinstate FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, who Trump fired without cause earlier this year.

The decision allows Trump to disregard Slaughter’s reinstatement while the Supreme Court decides whether to formally vacate lower court rulings that found her dismissal unlawful.

Slaughter’s firing mirrored the conflict at the heart of Humphrey’s Executor v. U.S, a 90-year-old Supreme Court ruling that protects independent agencies from undue presidential influence.

The court did not offer an explanation while appearing to again greatly expand the president’s power over federal commissions and boards that Congress designed to operate without direct control from the White House.

Lower court judges lately have voiced frustration and concern over the Supreme Court’s recent practice of granting the Trump administration unprecedented relief through unexplained orders.

The judges warned that the vague orders are unleashing uncertainty throughout the federal judiciary and hampering lower courts’ ability to defend the rule of law.

This story has been updated with new details throughout.