Fired FTC Commissioners Sue Trump Over Unlawful Dismissal
Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya's lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of their firings, citing long-standing legal protections for independent agency leaders.
- Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya, Democratic FTC commissioners removed by President Trump, filed a lawsuit seeking reinstatement and backpay.
- The lawsuit argues that their firings violate the 1935 Supreme Court precedent in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, which protects independent agency leaders from removal without cause.
- The Trump administration contends such removal protections are unconstitutional, potentially setting the stage for a Supreme Court review of the precedent.
- The firings have drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups, with allegations that the move benefits corporations like Amazon and Meta facing FTC enforcement actions.
- The FTC currently operates with only two members, raising concerns about its capacity to handle critical antitrust and consumer protection cases.
Fast Company 
Washington Post 
The Hill 
CNN 
The Verge 
The Guardian 
The American Prospect 
Washington Examiner 