A PYMNTS Company

Supreme Court Backs Trump’s Removal of FTC Commissioner

By  |  June 29, 2026
Supreme Court Backs Trump’s Removal of FTC Commissioner

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that President Donald Trump has the authority to remove Federal Trade Commission commissioners without cause, overturning a 1935 precedent that had limited the president’s ability to dismiss members of the independent agency.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    According to Reuters’ John Kruzel, the Court voted 6-3 to reverse lower court rulings that had reinstated FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter after Trump removed her in 2025. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, said the Constitution gives the president authority to supervise executive officers, including FTC commissioners.

    The decision overturns Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, a 1935 Supreme Court ruling that held Congress could restrict the president’s ability to remove FTC commissioners except for reasons such as inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance.

    Slaughter challenged her dismissal after Trump removed her in March 2025, arguing that the Federal Trade Commission Act protects commissioners from removal without cause. Lower courts agreed and ordered her reinstatement before the Supreme Court reversed those decisions, Reuters reported.

    The FTC is responsible for enforcing federal antitrust and consumer protection laws, including reviewing mergers, investigating alleged monopolization and challenging anticompetitive business practices. The agency, along with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, is the federal government’s primary competition enforcement authority.

    Read more: Trump Expected to Nominate FCC Lawyer Adam Candeub to Lead DOJ Antitrust Division

    The ruling addresses the president’s authority to remove commissioners rather than the FTC’s statutory authority to enforce antitrust laws. The agency retains its responsibilities under federal competition and consumer protection statutes.

    Reuters reported that the Court distinguished the FTC from the Federal Reserve, declining in a separate case to allow Trump to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The justices said the Federal Reserve’s structure and functions differ from those of the FTC.

    The decision continues a series of Supreme Court rulings examining the constitutional limits of independent federal agencies. In recent years, the Court has issued decisions narrowing the authority of some administrative agencies while expanding presidential oversight of executive branch officials.

    According to Reuters, Slaughter’s case returns to the lower courts for proceedings consistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling. The decision also provides guidance for future disputes involving presidential removal authority at independent regulatory agencies.

    Source: Reuters