Federal judge deems Trump’s firing of FTC commissioner illegal

In the United States, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled against the Trump administration regarding the dismissal of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter. This ruling came after Slaughter, alongside fellow commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, was removed in March 2023 during the Trump administration, which argued that the president had the authority to remove independent agency officials without cause. The court concluded that commissioners of the FTC can only be removed for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance, as specified by the Federal Trade Commission Act. The judge noted that Slaughter’s removal was not for any of these stated reasons but rather for political inconsistencies with the Trump administration’s priorities. Following this ruling, Slaughter was reinstated and entitled to fulfill her duties on the commission until her term expires in September 2029. This judgment challenges the notion that the president has unilateral power to dismiss independent agency officials, reinforcing constitutional protections meant to ensure these agencies operate free from political interference. Meanwhile, the case of Alvaro Bedoya was dismissed as moot after his resignation, leaving Slaughter's situation as the focal point of legal scrutiny concerning the authority of independent agencies and executive power.