US Supreme Court Widens Trump's Presidential Removal Powers Over Agencies, But Shields Fed Governor

Published 29 June 2026 · politics

US Supreme Court Widens Trump's Presidential Removal Powers Over Agencies, But Shields Fed Governor Published By, Last Updated: June 29, 2026, 22:53 IST The court

US Supreme Court Widens Trump's Presidential Removal Powers Over Agencies, But Shields Fed Governor Published By, Last Updated: June 29, 2026, 22:53 IST The court rejected challenge by Democratic Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, ruling that Trump has authority to remove “subordinates who exercise President’s power.” File image of US President Donald Trump. (Source: Reuters) The United States Supreme Court on Monday expanded President Donald Trump’s authority to remove members of independent federal agencies, while separately preserving protections for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook by blocking her dismissal. In a 6-3 ruling, the court’s conservative majority rejected a challenge by Democratic Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, ruling that Trump has the authority to remove “subordinates who exercise the President’s power." The decision is expected to have far-reaching consequences as Trump continues his efforts to reshape the federal government by installing political allies across key agencies and expanding executive authority. Trump celebrated the ruling in a series of posts on Truth Social, calling it a landmark victory for the presidency. “BIG WIN just moments ago at the Supreme Court, in the Slaughter Case, confirming Presidential Power in our Country to remove Executive Branch Officers and Agency Appointees, or Representatives, under Article II. This Decision was long sought by United States Presidents, dating all the way back to the 1930s. It is such an Honor to be the sitting President who won this Historic and Unprecedented Ruling, one of the most important ever given with respect to Presidential Powers," Trump said. Also Read: US Supreme Court Blocks Trump Bid To Fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook In another post, the president wrote, “To show the importance of the Slaughter Case, 90 years of precedent has been COMPLETELY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY OVERRULED, greatly increasing Presidential Power at a time when it is most needed!" The case centred on Rebecca Slaughter, who was dismissed from the Federal Trade Commission without cause.

Lower courts had ruled in her favour, finding that the dismissal violated congressional protections designed to insulate members of dozens of independent federal agencies from political removal. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts cited writings by James Madison, a framer of the US Constitution, and earlier Supreme Court precedents that recognised broad presidential authority over executive branch personnel. “Independent agencies are not ‘independent’ in the sense that they are free of the President and thus responsive ‘only to the people of the United States,’" Roberts wrote. The ruling effectively overturns nearly 90 years of precedent, limiting the president’s ability to remove officials serving on independent regulatory bodies. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing in dissent, accused the majority of dismantling long-standing constitutional safeguards separating executive and legislative authority. “Today, the majority replaces 90 years of proven, workable practice with a half-baked theory of executive power that is simultaneously all encompassing yet also subject to necessary but undefined exceptions," Sotomayor wrote. “The one thing that does appear to be clear going forward is that chaos will follow," she said. Also Read: ‘Fake Case’: Trump Vows To Fight After US Top Court Rejects Bid To Overturn Sexual Abuse Judgment Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren also criticised the decision, saying, “Donald Trump has fired Democratic appointees and seized control of formerly independent agencies so they serve him and his billionaire friends instead of the American public." Fed Governor Lisa Cook Protected In a separate case, however, the Supreme Court refused to allow Trump to immediately remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, ruling that while a president may dismiss Fed governors for cause, they cannot be removed “for any reason or no reason." The Federal Reserve, the US central bank, is an independent institution responsible for setting monetary policy, with governors nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.