Trump Fires Two FTC Commissioners, Legal Battle Looms Over Independence of Agency
President Trump dismissed two Democratic FTC commissioners, citing executive authority, igniting legal disputes over the agency's independence and compliance with Supreme Court rulings.
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This action , even more than the removal of National Labor Relations Board Chair Gwynne Wilcox, targets Humphrey's Executor v. United States as that case concerned the constitutionality of limits on the removal of FTC commissioners.
President Trump Targets Humphrey's Executor Directly
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The FTC is an independent agency founded 111 years ago to fight fraudsters and monopolists.
White House pledges to defend FTC firings in court
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Slaughter warned Wednesday that her "unprecedented" firing throws doubt and confusion on multiple active FTC lawsuits.
FTC commissioner fired by Trump says her ouster should concern markets
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The FTC enforces consumer protection and antitrust laws and has a bipartisan structure where no more than three of the five commissioners can come from the same party.
2 Democratic Commissioners Say They’ve Been Removed From the FTC
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The firings of Bedoya and Slaughter increase the odds that the Supreme Court will decide whether the 1935 ruling should be narrowed, thrown out, or kept in place.
Trump fires both FTC Democrats in challenge to Supreme Court precedent
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Even if one were inclined to shrug their shoulders about the fate of a couple of FTC commissioners, moves like these should be seen for what they are: power grabs from a president who appears increasingly indifferent to institutional limits and the rule of law.
Trump ignores Supreme Court precedent, fires Democrats who helped lead FTC
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The firings will likely intensify the legal fight around key questions about the extent of presidential powers — battles that could have consequences for other independent agencies, including the Federal Reserve.
Trump fires 2 Democrats on the Federal Trade Commission, seeking more control over regulators
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Trump fires 2 Democrats on the Federal Trade Commission, seeking more control over regulators
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The dismissal of the Federal Trade Commission members Tuesday potentially will allow President Donald Trump to fill their slots on the independent corporate regulator with officials more sympathetic to his administration.
Trump fires two Democratic FTC members
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The firings may complicate Ferguson’s bid to show the FTC remains committed to protecting consumers and competition in U.S. markets.
Trump fires both Democratic commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission
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The terminations fly directly in the face of Supreme Court precedent.
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Trump has already sparked lawsuits by fired members of other independent agencies including the National Labor Relations Board.
Donald Trump fires 2 Democratic commissioners at Federal Trade Commission
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Donald Trump has fired the two Democratic commissioners on the US Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday, further blurring the lines of bipartisanship at regulatory agencies.
Trump fires FTC’s only two Democrats: ‘The President just illegally fired me’
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The move marks another significant challenge to the independence of regulatory agencies.
Fired FTC commissioner says Trump was "afraid" of what she'd tell people
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The firings are the latest by Trump to challenge a 90-year legal precedent that shields members of independent agencies — part of his administration’s move to gain greater influence across the government.
Trump Administration Dismisses Two Democratic FTC Commissioners
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Summary
President Trump has fired FTC commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, claiming authority despite a 1935 Supreme Court ruling that forbids removing commissioners without cause. Both commissioners labeled the dismissals illegal, vowing legal action. This move raises alarms about the FTC's autonomy amid ongoing antitrust actions and consumer protections. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson backed Trump, asserting the President’s authority to make such dismissals. As the FTC's composition shifts to a Republican majority, critics warn that this undermines the agency’s role against corporate malfeasance, potentially affecting market stability.
Perspectives
President Trump fired both Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), advancing the administration's claim that the president has the authority to remove commissioners, despite a US law and a Supreme Court ruling that mandates good cause for such actions.
The two ousted commissioners have announced plans to pursue legal action, asserting their firings were illegal and a violation of well-established Supreme Court precedent specifically protecting their positions.
These firings raise significant questions about presidential power over independent agencies, potentially challenging the long-standing legal framework that ensures their autonomy from political influence.
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