Outcry over supreme court decision to grant Trump power to fire agency chiefs
Legal and labor experts say Trump v Slaughter decision upends settled constitutional law in favor of ‘loyalty test’
TL;DR
- The US Supreme Court has overturned 90 years of precedent, granting presidents the power to fire leaders of independent agencies.
- The ruling stems from the firing of Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter by Donald Trump.
- Critics argue the decision abandons settled constitutional understanding and replaces it with a 'loyalty test'.
- The decision is expected to give future presidents greater control over independent agencies, potentially eroding guardrails against corruption and political interference.
- While the court ruled differently on Trump's attempt to fire Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook, it clarified that the Fed is treated differently.
- Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, calling the decision 'egregiously wrong' and warning of chaos.