US President Donald Trump celebrated what he described as a “Historic and Unprecedented” victory after the US Supreme Court handed him a major win by upholding his authority to remove the heads of most independent federal agencies.In a post on Truth Social shortly after the ruling, Trump wrote: “BIG WIN just moments ago at the Supreme Court, in the Slaughter Case, confirming Presidential Power in our Country to remove Executive Branch Officers and Agency Appointees, or Representatives, under Article II. This Decision was long sought by United States Presidents, dating all the way back to the 1930s.”Calling it one of the most significant rulings on executive authority, Trump added: “It is such an Honor to be the sitting President who won this Historic and Unprecedented Ruling, one of the most important ever given with respect to Presidential Powers. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”The 6-3 Supreme Court decision overturned the 91-year-old Humphrey’s Executor precedent, ruling that protections preventing presidents from removing leaders of most independent agencies without cause violate the Constitution’s separation of powers. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that “such protection from removal is contrary to the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution.”The case centred on former Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter, whom Trump dismissed despite a federal law requiring cause for her removal. The ruling also affects other independent agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board, the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.The court, however, carved out one major exception by allowing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to remain in office while she challenges Trump’s attempt to remove her over mortgage fraud allegations, which she denies. Roberts wrote that removing Cook immediately “would allow the President to remove a member of the Federal Reserve at any time, for any reason, without any notice before, and without any judicial check after.“Following that aspect of the ruling, Trump threatened further action, writing that the decision regarding Cook was “strictly procedural” and adding: “We will take appropriate action immediately to make sure that someone who has committed wrongdoing will not be making vital decisions concerning the Welfare of the United States of America!”
