The Supreme Court issued a landmark 6-3 ruling on June 29, 2026, expanding presidential authority over independent federal agencies.
The decision has raised significant concerns among former officials about the integrity of the civil service.
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Rebecca Slaughter, a former Democratic commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) who was fired by President Trump in March 2025, expressed alarm.
She said the ruling could lead to increased corruption and manipulation within government agencies.
"My stomach just dropped," Slaughter said, recalling her firing while helping with her child's school play.
"I was really hoping that it would avoid us, both because I love my job, but really more because I love the agency."
Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya, also terminated from the FTC, filed a lawsuit challenging their dismissals.
A federal judge reinstated Slaughter in July 2025, but the Trump administration appealed, leading to the Supreme Court's review.
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"If they did not want to overturn a 91-year-old precedent, they would have not taken the case," Slaughter noted.
"I wasn’t going to cede to something that I thought was wrong on law, wrong on policy, wrong on principle."
Following the ruling, Slaughter warned of a troubling future where wealthy donors might influence government decisions.
"Are companies going to be excused from lying and cheating because they’ve donated to the ballroom or to the president’s inauguration?"
she questioned.
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The ruling empowers the president to fire officials from independent agencies, raising concerns about corruption and the fairness of the economy.
