Washington: The US Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared on Monday to side with the Trump administration in a pivotal case that could reshape the independence of America’s federal agencies. The case, Trump v. Slaughter, challenges a long-standing precedent that protects members of independent commissions from being removed by the president without cause.
The dispute began after President Donald Trump dismissed Rebecca Slaughter—then a Democratic appointee to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—and another commissioner in March, citing their views as “inconsistent with the administration’s priorities.” Slaughter, first appointed by Trump in 2018 to fill a Democratic seat and later reappointed by President Joe Biden, filed a lawsuit contesting her removal.
