Donald Trump Suffers Legal Blow Over Fired Government Official
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A federal judge has delivered a significant legal setback to President Donald Trump's administration by ruling that the president illegally fired a Democratic commissioner from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan ruled late Thursday that Rebecca Kelly Slaughter must be restored to her position, citing federal protections for independent agency commissioners. The FTC website was updated by Friday morning to reflect Slaughter's return as one of four sitting commissioners.
Judge AliKhan's decision centers on the 1935 Supreme Court case Humphrey's Executor, which established that FTC commissioners can only be removed "for cause" - meaning specific misconduct like inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance - rather than at the president's discretion.
Trump fired both Slaughter and fellow Democratic commissioner Alvaro Bedoya in March, citing that their service was "inconsistent with his administration's priorities." While Bedoya later resigned, making his case moot, Slaughter has four years remaining in her term.
The FTC typically maintains a bipartisan structure with three commissioners from the president's party and two from the opposition. This balance is designed to prevent any single political party from dominating decisions affecting consumer protection and antitrust enforcement.
U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions while departing the White House on July 11, 2025 in Washington, DC.
U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions while departing the White House on July 11, 2025 in Washington, DC.This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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