President Trump has ceased by both Democratic Commissioners of the Federal Commission of Trade, creating a legal battle that will have major implications for a major two -party regulatory agency, traditionally seen as independent of the executive branch.
The White House informed Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter of their holiday on Tuesday, the Democrats confirmed in special posts X. Both Beedoya and Slaughter called their “illegal” fires and pledged to challenge Trump in court.
“The president simply ceased to me illegally. This is simple and simple corruption,” Bedoya said.
Slaughter said Trump’s decision violated “the simple language of a statute and the clear precedent of the Supreme Court.”
“The law protects the independence of the commission because the law serves the American people, not the power of the corporation,” Slaughter said in a statement.
The fires left FTC Mayor Andrew Ferguson and his Republican friend Melissa Holyoak as the only remaining panel members with five people. Mark Meador, who was appointed by Trump to be the third Republican FTC Commissioner, has not yet been confirmed by a full vote in the Senate.
It was not immediately clear if Trump plans to name replacements for Bedoya and Slaughter.
White House press assistant Taylor Rogers said Trump “has the legitimate authority to manage staff within the executive branch”.
“President Trump will continue to get rid of the Federal Government of the bad actors not signed with his common sense agenda, the American people voted firmly,” Rogers added in a statement.
Ferguson, who has referred to the Agency as “Trump-Vang FTC” since taking the chair, supported the President’s right to fire commissioners.
“I have no doubts about his constitutional authority to remove the commissioners, which is needed to ensure democratic responsibility for our government,” Ferguson said in a statement posted on X.
“The Federal Commission of Trade will continue its tireless work to protect consumers, the lowest prices and anti -incompet behavior of the police,” Ferguson added.
A White House official informed Bedoya and the slaughter that the president has “unlimited power” to remove the executive branch officers confirmed by the Senate, according to an email taken by Wall Street Journal.
“Your continued FTC service is contrary to the advantages of my administration,” the email reads. “Accordingly, I am removing you from the office in accordance with my authority under Article II of the Constitution.”
Earlier this week, Ferguson confirmed that the FTC was fully prepared to challenge Meta in an April trial seeking a tech giant. The agency also has cases pending against Amazon and oversees data privacy settlements in relation to Meta and X.
Trump has sought to exercise greater control over independent agencies, issuing an executive order in February that gave the White House more width.
Fires will test a 1935 decision by the Supreme Court in the Humphrey executive against the United States.
At the time, the Court ruled that the president does not have the authority to light the FTC commissioners without good cause – by establishing a precedent that has traditionally defended independent bodies such as FTC and federal reserves from direct executive intervention.
The White House argues that FTC has important executive powers and that the exceptions provided by the Humphrey executor should not apply to its commissioners.
FTC fires have “major implications for Fed’s independence,” said a former FTC official for The Post.
Trump has been harshly critical of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell in the past due to disputes over his interest rates. Powell will significantly announce the other Movement of Fed policy this afternoon.
“I think it was time as a threat,” FTC official said.
Fires along the partisan lines can attack Republicans in the future under a Democratic White House administration, the official added.
“Will we all be happy with Queen Lina Khan in FTC?” said the official.
Khan, who led the agency under former President Joe Biden and irritated business leaders with a strong approach to implementation, also destroyed fires.
“@Ftc should apply the law without fear or favor,” Khan said. “The illegal attempt by the administration to fire Commissioners Slaughter & Beedoya is a worrying sign that this FTC will not. It is a gift to corporate laws that squeeze consumers, workers and honest American businesses.”
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