Move that’s sending shockwaves through Washington, former President Donald Trump has reportedly fired two Democratic commissioners from the Federal Trade Commission—despite a Supreme Court precedent that says he can’t.
Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter, both appointed for seven-year terms that weren’t set to expire until 2026 and 2029, were abruptly dismissed, according to Reuters. The FTC, a crucial watchdog for consumer protection and antitrust enforcement, is structured to maintain bipartisan representation, with no more than three of its five commissioners belonging to the same political party.
Bedoya wasted no time calling out Trump’s decision. “The president just illegally fired me,” he declared on social media, blasting the move as “corruption, plain and simple.” He went further, accusing Trump of trying to turn the FTC into a “lapdog for his golfing buddies.” Bedoya has vowed to fight back, stating that he will sue to reclaim his position.
Legal experts are already pointing to a historic case that directly contradicts Trump’s actions. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to fire FTC Commissioner William Humphrey over policy disagreements. The Supreme Court later ruled in Humphrey’s Executor v. U.S. that the president does not have unlimited authority to remove FTC members without cause.
Despite this precedent, Trump has a track record of ousting officials from key government agencies, often sparking legal battles. Just this month, a federal judge ruled his removal of National Labor Relations Board member Gwynne Wilcox was unconstitutional—raising serious questions about whether this latest FTC shakeup will stand.
