Legal Implications and Responses
President dismissed Democratic Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioners and , citing their service as inconsistent with his administration's priorities, which has led to a legal challenge by the fired commissioners.
The dismissals have raised questions about presidential powers and the independence of regulatory bodies, referencing the 1935 Supreme Court precedent in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, which limited the president's ability to remove FTC commissioners without cause.
Political Reactions and Broader Implications
The firings have been criticized as an effort to exert control over independent agencies, with Bedoya and Slaughter accusing Trump of attempting to turn the FTC into a "lapdog" for his interests and undermining market stability.
FTC Chair and the defended Trump's actions, asserting his constitutional authority to remove commissioners, and emphasizing the importance of aligning the FTC with the administration's agenda.