Awaiting decisionUpdated Sep 13, 2026

Supreme Court Set to Rule on Presidential Power to Fire Independent Agency Heads

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The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in December 2025 in Trump v. Slaughter, deciding whether to overturn a 90-year-old precedent that limits the President's ability to fire Federal Trade Commission commissioners without cause. A ruling is expected before the end of the Court's term in late June or early July 2026, with the conservative majority signaling strong support for broader presidential removal power.

How much control should the President have over who leads independent federal agencies?

Presidents should control who leads executive agenciesArticle II vests all executive power in the President, so officials exercising that power must be accountable to him through removal.

Congress-designed for-cause protections should standCongress has the constitutional authority to insulate expert, multi-member regulatory bodies from political removal to preserve impartiality and stability.

The ruling should be narrow and protect the Federal ReserveEven justices open to expanding removal power expressed concern about applying any ruling to the Fed, suggesting a limited or agency-specific outcome.

How will the Supreme Court rule in Trump v. Slaughter?

Answer where you stand first — what you want and what you expect are different questions.

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