A PYMNTS Company

Trump’s Firing of FTC Official Heads to Supreme Court

By  |  October 19, 2025
Trump’s Firing of FTC Official Heads to Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will hear arguments on December 8 in a case that could reshape the balance of power between the presidency and independent federal agencies, according to Reuters. The dispute centers on former President Donald Trump’s decision to remove Rebecca Slaughter, a Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), before the end of her term.

    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.

    In September, the court agreed to take up the case while simultaneously allowing Trump to proceed with Slaughter’s dismissal. The justices lifted a lower court order that had temporarily prevented her removal. Slaughter, whose term was set to run through 2029, had challenged her firing in court, arguing it violated federal law that protects the independence of FTC commissioners, per Reuters.

    We’d love to be your preferred source for news.

    Please add us to your preferred sources list so our news, data and interviews show up in your feed. Thanks!

    Add as Preferred Source

    The outcome could have far-reaching implications. The case may prompt the justices to revisit a landmark 1935 ruling, Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, which upheld congressional limits on the president’s power to remove members of independent agencies. That decision has long served as a cornerstone for maintaining agency autonomy from political influence.

    Read more: Trump’s Dismissal of Government Watchdogs Violated Law, Judge Finds

    The Supreme Court, currently holding a 6-3 conservative majority, saw its three liberal members dissent from the decision to let Trump remove Slaughter while litigation continues. According to Reuters, federal law allows presidents to remove FTC commissioners only for specific reasons such as inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance — not for disagreements over policy.

    Trump’s move to fire Slaughter, one of two Democratic commissioners dismissed in March, drew backlash from Democratic lawmakers and antitrust advocates. Critics argued the action aimed to silence internal dissent and weaken the FTC’s oversight of corporate practices.

    Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington blocked the firing, ruling that the statutory protections for FTC commissioners align with constitutional principles. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals later upheld that decision. Both courts cited the Humphrey’s Executor precedent, which limited presidential authority to remove agency officials based solely on policy conflicts.

    Source: Reuters