‘The President Just Illegally Fired Me’: Trump Ousts FTC Commissioners Despite Supreme Court Precedent
President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by dismissing two Democratic commissioners from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter, whose terms were set to expire in 2026 and 2029, respectively.
The FTC, which enforces antitrust laws and protects consumers, is composed of five commissioners, with no more than three from the same political party. Trump’s move gives Republicans full control of the commission.
Bedoya condemned the firings as “corruption plain and simple,” accusing Trump of wanting the FTC to serve as a “lapdog for his golfing buddies.
He vowed to sue to retain his position, arguing that the dismissals violate Supreme Court precedent. In the 1935 case *Humphrey’s Executor v. U.S.*, the Court ruled that FTC commissioners cannot be removed over policy disagreements, as the FTC Act protects them from arbitrary dismissal by the president.
This is not the first time Trump has removed federal officials, prompting legal challenges. Earlier in March, a federal judge ruled that Trump’s dismissal of Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board was unconstitutional, reinstating her position.
Critics argue that Trump’s actions undermine the independence of federal agencies and threaten the rule of law.
The FTC’s role in regulating mergers and consumer protection makes these firings particularly significant, as they could impact ongoing cases, such as the FTC’s recent injunction blocking the Kroger-Albertsons supermarket merger.
