Trump Court Rulings Split

A trio of late-term decisions produced a split verdict on Trump’s agenda: the court preserved late-arriving mail ballots, protected Lisa Cook at the Federal Reserve for now, and expanded presidential power over most independent agencies. Chief Justice John Roberts authored key opinions drawing a sharp distinction between the Fed and other executive-branch regulators, leaving both supporters and critics to claim partial victories.

Supreme Court blocked Trump from immediately removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, allowing her to remain in office while she challenges his firing attempt tied to disputed mortgage-fraud allegations. The narrow 5-4 ruling treated the Fed as uniquely insulated from ordinary presidential control, but analysts warned the procedural decision leaves future fights over Fed independence unresolved.

In Trump v. Slaughter, Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump could fire Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, overturning the 1935 Humphrey’s Executor precedent that protected leaders of independent agencies from at-will removal. The decision dramatically expands presidential control over regulatory bodies and raised concerns from labor, consumer and government-watchdog advocates about politicized enforcement.