In the majority opinion, the court wrote that the Constitution vests all executive power in the president.Image: keystone
The US Supreme Court has significantly strengthened the president’s power over independent US federal authorities.
June 30, 2026, 3:06 amJune 30, 2026, 3:06 am
The judges ruled that members of the antitrust authority Federal Trade Commission (FTC), contrary to a decades-old regulation, can in principle be removed by the president without a legally prescribed reason for dismissal. Things had been handled differently for decades. The case is likely to spill over into other agencies. Trump spoke of a “HUGE VICTORY”.
The trigger was the dismissal of Democratic FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter by President Donald Trump shortly after he took office in 2025. Trump did not cite specific reasons such as dereliction of duty or misconduct, but stated that her continued work did not fit his administration’s priorities. Rebecca Kelly Slaughter described her dismissal as illegal, also because the necessary justification was missing.
In the majority opinion, the court wrote that the Constitution vests all executive power in the president. Officials and agency heads who exercised this power would therefore have to report to the president and, in principle, be able to be dismissed by him at any time. The FTC now clearly exercises executive authority, such as issuing binding rules, investigating, and enforcing federal law.
Court: President must be able to trust agency heads
The judges argued that a president needs the support of officials he can trust. Neither Congress nor the courts should impose on him people with whom it is impossible for him to cooperate.
The Federal Trade Commission is a federal agency that oversees antitrust and consumer protection. The watchdogs see their job as protecting Americans from anti-competitive, unfair and misleading business practices. The agency has existed for more than 100 years and is headquartered in Washington.
Five commissioners make up the top of the authority, one of whom is the chairman. They are appointed by the sitting president and then have to be confirmed by the US House of Representatives. The term of office lasts seven years.
The judges also differentiated their decision from the US Federal Reserve. Their special status will not be decided in these proceedings. There could also be exceptions. (sda/dpa)