The Supreme Court struck down a federal law that restricts the president’s ability to fire members of the Federal Trade Commission, expanding presidential control over independent federal agencies. The court’s conservative majority overturned a unanimous 90-year-old decision known as Humphrey’s Executor that has limited when presidents can fire agencies’ board members — in part to try to ensure decision making free of political influence — or leave it with only its shell intact. The case stemmed from Trump’s decision to fire FTC member Rebecca Slaughter without cause. Slaughter sued and lower courts ordered her reinstated because the law allows commissioners to be removed only for problems like misconduct…
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