Supreme Court Expands Presidential Power in Agency Head Firings

The US Supreme Court on Monday dramatically expanded presidential power when it ruled to uphold President Donald Trump's firings of the heads of independent federal agencies.

The top court, however, stood firm against his decision to fire the governor of the Federal Reserve, the US central bank.

Among a series of rulings, the court voted 5-4 to reject Trump's 2025 firing of Fed Governor Lisa Cook.

But it held that presidents have free rein to fire agency heads at will, overruling a landmark decision that dates back to almost a century. The court upheld Trump's dismissal of Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter over policy differences.

What do we know about the Supreme Court's ruling on Cook's firing?

Trump last August tried to oust Cook, the first Black woman to serve as a Fed governor, citing unproven mortgage fraud allegations which she denied. Cook argued the allegations were a pretext to remove her for monetary policy differences.

Trump has openly attacked the Federal Reserve as he exercised pressure on the world's biggest central bank to cut interest rates more rapidly and deeply.

On Monday, the court's Chief Justice John Roberts and fellow conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh were among those who ruled against Trump's decision.

Roberts said the Federal Reserve's governors "do not serve at the president's pleasure — they instead serve staggered 14 year terms, and may be removed only 'for cause.'"

The court argued that the president cannot remove officials at the independent Fed "for any reason or no reason."

What did the Supreme Court say about Trump's firing powers?

However, the court in a separate 6-3 ruling backed Trump's firing of Democratic Federal Trade Commission member Slaughter, expanding his presidential powers over the executive branch of government.

The ruling overturned the Supreme Court's 1935 precedent that had recognized the authority of Congress to protect leaders of certain regulatory agencies from presidential removal at will.

Trump had dismissed Slaughter over policy differences, but a lower court ruling blocked the dismissal, citing the 1935 ruling, known as Humphrey's ​Executor ruling.

Slaughter was appointed to the post by former President and fellow Democrat Joe Biden. She was one of two Democratic FTC commissioners fired by Trump shortly after his return to the White House last year. Her term was due to run until 2029.

Trump celebrates one ruling, condemns the other

Trump welcomed the ruling on Slaughter's case as a "BIG WIN." He said on social media the decision was "confirming Presidential Power in our Country to remove Executive Branch Officers ‌and Agency ​Appointees, or Representatives, under Article II," the constitutional provision laying out presidential powers.

"This Decision was long sought by United States Presidents, dating all the way back to the 1930s," Trump wrote, calling the decision "one of the most important ever given with respect to Presidential Powers."

Meanwhile, his tone shifted dramatically when addressing the decision on Cook.

"We will take appropriate action immediately to make sure that someone who has committed wrongdoing will not be making vital decisions concerning the Welfare of the United States of America!" Trump said in a social media post, calling the Supreme Court verdict "strictly procedural."

Court upholds $5 million Trump sex assault judgment

In a separate ruling, the Supreme Court also on Monday declined to hear Trump's bid to overturn a $5 million (roughly €4.38 million) verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll, after a jury found the US president liable of sexually abusing then defaming the former magazine columnist.

A lower court had upheld the jury verdict in 2023, rejecting Trump's arguments that the rial was unfair.

In her 2019 memoir, Carroll alleged that Trump had raped her around 1996 in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan. Trump repeatedly denied the accusation.

Trump expressed disappointment in the Supreme Court's decision not to hear the appeal and called Carroll's lawsuit "a Fake Case."

"I will continue the fight against this Weaponization and Lawfare Case against me, including ‌the ridiculous claim of Defamation, with all of my power and strength. This Case is really against the United ‌States of ​America, and all it stands for, and should never be allowed to happen to another President, or Candidate to be!" Trump wrote on social media.

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru