The termination is in effect as the case proceeds through the lower courts.
The Supreme Court granted the request from President Trump’s administration to allow the firing of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter while a lawsuit to challenge her termination proceeds. This overturns an order issued by the district judge overseeing the case, which blocked Slaughter’s firing during legal proceedings.
President Donald Trump fired two members of the FTC in May. The action challenges the 1935 Supreme Court precedent in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, which supported congressional limitations on the removal of FTC commissioners. The district judge and the circuit court ruled according to that precedent.
Attorneys for the remaining plaintiff stated that this violates a 1914 law passed by Congress that seeks to protect independent agencies from being fired for political reasons, which says that FTC members can only be removed for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” The other fired commissioner dropped out of the suit.
The president’s administration has defended its move under Article 2 of the Constitution, which gives the president power over the executive branch. The majority of the Supreme Court has indicated skepticism over the independence of federal agencies not being subject to elected executive authority.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Chief Justice John Roberts to be discerning as he presides over the Supreme Court.
- For the justices to receive God’s wisdom as they hear challenges and emergency petitions.
- For President Trump and officials in his Cabinet as they seek to implement new or updated policies.
Sources: NBC News, MSN
