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President Trump Seeks Supreme Court Approval to Fire FTC Commissioner

By  |  September 4, 2025

President Donald Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow him to remove Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, whose reinstatement was ordered by lower courts after her dismissal earlier this year. According to a statement from the White House, Trump is also seeking to pause Slaughter’s return to the FTC while the case proceeds on appeal.

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    Trump dismissed Slaughter and another Democratic commissioner, Alvaro Bedoya, in March as part of an effort to consolidate control over federal agencies. Both challenged their removals in court, but Bedoya ultimately resigned from the FTC in June and dropped his lawsuit. Slaughter continued her legal fight, leading a federal judge in Washington, D.C., to rule in July that her firing was unlawful. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision in a 2-1 ruling earlier this week, finding that FTC commissioners may only be removed for cause, defined as neglect or malfeasance in office.

    The appeals court noted that Trump provided no reason for Slaughter’s termination and concluded that “the government has no likelihood of success on appeal.” Following that ruling, Slaughter returned to her position at the FTC.

    Related: President Trump Warns Trade Deals Could Be Unraveled if Tariff Case Lost

    White House spokesman Kush Desai defended the president’s actions, stating, “President Trump acted lawfully when he removed Rebecca Slaughter from the FTC.” In the same statement, Desai emphasized that the Supreme Court has recently backed the president’s authority to remove heads of executive agencies, adding, “We look forward to being vindicated for a third time — and hopefully after this ruling, the lower courts will cease their defiance of Supreme Court orders.”

    Slaughter’s case is the second in recent weeks to question whether Trump had legal cause to dismiss a federal regulator. According to a statement from administration officials, a similar dispute is unfolding over Trump’s attempt to remove Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden. Trump has alleged Cook engaged in mortgage fraud, allegations her attorney has denied. That matter remains unresolved after a recent court hearing, leaving the future of Cook’s position uncertain.

    Source: CNBC