Supreme Court Expands Power to Fire Agency Leaders, Exempting the Fed in 2 Rulings
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 23
Supreme Court Expands Power to Fire Agency Leaders, Exempting the Fed in 2 Rulings
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 23
Summary
Two Supreme Court rulings last month sharply widened presidential control over the executive branch by allowing agency leaders to be fired for any reason, while carving out an exception for the Federal Reserve.
The broader decision, Trump v. Slaughter, let presidents override statutes that had required good cause for removing leaders of independent agencies, embracing a far stronger view of executive power.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote both majority opinions, but legal scholars said the Fed exception in Trump v. Cook sat uneasily with the sweeping logic of the agency-firing ruling.
The 6-3 conservative majority’s approach echoes the court’s 2024 Trump v. United States decision, which also expanded presidential authority by granting substantial immunity from prosecution.
How will new presidential power over federal agencies reshape the rules governing American businesses and daily life?
With a 91-year-old legal precedent overturned, how is the fundamental balance of power in government being redefined?
Supreme Court’s 2026 Rulings Reshape Presidential Power: End of Independent Agencies, Exception for Federal Reserve
Overview
In June 2026, the Supreme Court issued landmark rulings that dramatically expanded the President's authority to remove leaders of federal agencies. By overruling the long-standing precedent of Humphrey’s Executor, which had required 'for cause' justification for removing certain officials, the Court paved the way for future presidents to reshape agencies like the National Labor Relations Board more freely. These decisions are already reshaping the regulatory landscape and raising concerns about the future independence of key government bodies, as presidential power over agency leadership grows and traditional protections are removed.