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Trump Fires Two Democratic FTC Commissioners in Legal Power Struggle

The dismissals of Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter challenge long-standing Supreme Court precedent on agency independence.

A view of signage at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo/File Photo
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Overview

  • President Donald Trump removed Democratic FTC commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter, whose terms were set to end in 2026 and 2029, respectively.
  • The firings are being challenged as illegal under the 1935 Supreme Court ruling in Executor v. United States, which limits the president’s ability to dismiss FTC commissioners without cause.
  • Both fired commissioners plan to sue, arguing that the move undermines the FTC’s independence and consumer protection mission.
  • The FTC is now left with two Republican commissioners, potentially stalling decision-making as the Senate has yet to confirm Trump’s nominee for the fifth seat.
  • The legal battle could set a precedent impacting other independent agencies like the Federal Reserve, raising concerns about expanded presidential authority.