Shocking twist that sent political and legal circles into turmoil, President Donald Trump has fired both Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), setting the stage for a fierce legal battle over presidential power and the independence of regulatory agencies.
The abrupt removals of FTC Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter directly challenge long-standing U.S. law and a pivotal 1935 Supreme Court ruling that restricts a president’s ability to fire FTC commissioners without cause. Despite these legal barriers, Trump took action, sparking accusations of an unlawful power grab.
“Trump tried to illegally fire me. I’ll see the president in court,” Bedoya declared, vowing to fight the decision. He accused Trump of attempting to turn the FTC into “a lapdog for his golfing buddies” instead of an independent body designed to combat monopolies and fraud.
Slaughter echoed his concerns, stating, “The President illegally fired me from my position, violating the plain language of a statute and clear Supreme Court precedent.” She warned that Trump’s move was aimed at shielding major corporations from scrutiny, favoring powerful executives over consumer protections.
The FTC, established to operate independently from the White House, has long been insulated from political purges. U.S. law explicitly states that commissioners may only be removed for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance. The Supreme Court cemented this protection in the 1935 case Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, ruling that Congress intended to restrict presidential removal power over FTC members.
But Trump’s administration is challenging that precedent, arguing it was wrongly decided. His Department of Justice (DOJ) has openly pushed for the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling, contending that it hinders the president’s ability to oversee executive branch officials.
This is not the first time Trump has tested these waters. He previously ousted two Democratic commissioners from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), signaling a broader effort to dismantle independent oversight structures. Now, the FTC firings are poised to escalate the legal showdown over presidential authority.
Critics, including consumer advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers, have swiftly condemned the move. “This reckless, new attempt to undermine a federal agency’s independence and bipartisan structure is flatly illegal,” said Elise Phillips, policy counsel at Public Knowledge. “It will undoubtedly be overturned by the courts.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was even more direct: “Donald Trump just illegally fired two independent commissioners who fight big corporations that abuse consumers and workers. Why? His billionaire donors expect a return on their investment. He works for them, not you.”
Trump, however, has been unwavering in his stance. His administration recently issued an executive order asserting “Presidential supervision and control of the entire executive branch,” explicitly targeting independent agencies like the FTC, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Newly appointed FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, a Trump ally, defended the firings, claiming that the president has full authority to remove commissioners at will. “President Donald J. Trump is the head of the executive branch and is vested with all of the executive power in our government. I have no doubts about his constitutional authority to remove Commissioners,” Ferguson stated.
The Supreme Court may now be forced to decide whether to uphold or dismantle the nearly 90-year-old precedent limiting presidential power over independent agencies. If the court sides with Trump, it could redefine the balance of power between the executive branch and regulatory bodies, giving future presidents sweeping control over institutions meant to operate free from political influence.
With lawsuits imminent and legal experts bracing for a major constitutional battle, all eyes are now on the courts to determine whether Trump’s latest power play will stand—or crumble under legal scrutiny.
The FTC, now down to only two commissioners instead of the usual five, faces uncertainty as the fight over its future intensifies.
