Supreme Court Appears Poised To Let Trump Remove Independent Agency Members — A Potential Overturn Of 1935 Precedent

The US Supreme Court on Monday appeared likely to endorse the Trump administration’s argument that the president may remove members of independent federal boards — a change that could significantly expand executive power and weaken long-standing protections for independent agencies.

Justices heard arguments over the legality of Donald Trump’s March removal of Federal Trade Commission commissioner Rebecca Slaughter. The court seemed divided largely along ideological lines, with the conservative majority — including Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who has sometimes been a pivotal vote — leaning toward allowing the president broader authority to dismiss commissioners.

The Justice Department has appealed a lower-court decision that found the president exceeded his authority when he moved to dismiss Slaughter before her term expired. If the Supreme Court sides with the administration, it could overturn the New Deal–era precedent set in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States (1935), which has protected the heads of many independent agencies from at-will removal for nearly a century.

Why it matters: Legal scholars warn that a ruling for the administration would reshape the balance between the White House and independent regulatory bodies, potentially eroding the insulation designed to keep agencies free from partisan interference.

John Yoo, a former Justice Department lawyer in the George W. Bush administration, told Reuters the case raises “one of the most important questions over the last century on the workings of the federal government,” adding that “the future of the independence of the administrative state is at issue.”

Other Top Developments

US Base In Southern Israel: Sources say Israeli operatives conducted widespread recordings of meetings and personnel at a new US base’s Civil–Military Coordination Center (CMCC). The scale of surveillance prompted the US base commander, Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, to summon an Israeli counterpart and demand the recordings stop.

Past Comments Resurface: Footage from 2016 shows US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urging service members to refuse “unlawful” orders from a potential President Trump — a position he later condemned when cited by Democrats this year.

Venezuela Warning: Celso Amorim, Brazil’s chief foreign policy adviser, warned that a US invasion or attack on Venezuela could plunge South America into a prolonged conflict comparable to Vietnam. He described a US move to close Venezuelan airspace as “an act of war.”

Corporate Moves: President Trump flagged antitrust concerns about Netflix’s proposed $83bn acquisition of Warner Bros.’ studio and streaming businesses, saying he would weigh in on any government decision. Separately, Paramount Skydance launched a hostile bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery amid competing offers.

New Orleans Archdiocese Settlement: After more than five years of litigation, a federal bankruptcy judge approved the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans’ plan to pay roughly $230 million to about 600 survivors of sexual abuse by clergy and staff.

Local Politics & Policing: Washington police chief Pamela Smith resigned after less than two years amid disputes over the federalization and control of the Metropolitan Police Department. Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett launched a campaign for the US Senate in Texas, adding a prominent contender to a key race.

National Park Service Changes: The National Park Service will offer free admission to US residents on President Trump’s birthday in 2026, but will eliminate free-entry days for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth.

Gaza Ceasefire Plan: Under a proposed ceasefire plan, Israeli military leaders described a “yellow line” in Gaza as effectively a new border for Israel; Tony Blair reportedly withdrew from a senior role on Trump’s Gaza “peace council” after objections from Arab and Muslim states.

Immigration Note: The Brazilian-born mother of the nephew of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt — who was recently detained by US immigration authorities — has disputed the administration’s portrayal of her as an absent parent.

These developments reflect major shifts in US legal, foreign, and domestic policy discussions. We will continue to follow the Supreme Court case closely because of its potential long-term impact on the independence of federal agencies.