The Supreme Court of the United States ruled on June 30, 2026, that President Donald Trump had the authority to fire a member of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) without cause, overturning a long-standing precedent from 1935. The decision, in a 6-3 vote along ideological lines, centered on the constitutionality of restrictions on presidential removal power over independent agency officials.
The case involved the dismissal of FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, a Democrat appointed by former President Joe Biden. The Court held that the FTC's structure, which limited the president's ability to remove commissioners except for inefficiency, neglect, or malfeasance, violated Article II of the Constitution, which vests executive power in the president.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, stating that the president must have control over executive officers to ensure accountability to the electorate. The ruling effectively overturns Humphrey's Executor v. United States (1935), which had upheld similar removal restrictions for the FTC. Justice Elena Kagan dissented, arguing the decision undermines the independence of regulatory agencies.
The ruling is expected to have broad implications for other independent agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve, potentially allowing the president to remove their heads at will. Legal experts anticipate challenges to the structure of these agencies in the coming months.
