"US Supreme Court Tilted Towards Trump's Control Over Independent Agencies"
A majority of the conservative justices on the US Supreme Court appear ready to back President Donald Trump's authority over independent agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A ruling in favor of the president would grant him significant power over these bodies, potentially undermining their independence and the checks and balances that Congress has established.
The case centers around the 1935 precedent set by Humphrey's Executor v. United States, which held that the president could only remove FTC commissioners for cause. However, conservative justices are skeptical of this rule, with Chief Justice John Roberts describing it as a "dried husk" and suggesting that its application to modern agencies may be limited.
Justice Samuel Alito expressed concerns about the potential for Congress to convert executive branch agencies into "multi-member commissions" with members protected from presidential removal. Meanwhile, Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted that broad delegations of power to independent agencies can raise constitutional issues related to individual liberty.
On the other hand, liberal justices are urging caution, with Ketanji Brown Jackson arguing that an unchecked president's authority over these agencies would undermine their expertise and represent a threat to American democracy. Elena Kagan also highlighted the importance of Congress maintaining oversight and control over these agencies, warning that the erosion of independence could lead to "massive, uncontrolled, unchecked power" in the hands of the president.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor took a strong stance against this trend, arguing that the independent regulatory agencies have been an essential part of the US government's structure since its founding. She also questioned why some justices would seek to dismantle this system without considering its historical context and the checks it provides on executive overreach.
The implications of these rulings are significant, as they could have far-reaching consequences for the balance of power in Washington and potentially embolden future presidents to exploit their authority over independent agencies.
A majority of the conservative justices on the US Supreme Court appear ready to back President Donald Trump's authority over independent agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A ruling in favor of the president would grant him significant power over these bodies, potentially undermining their independence and the checks and balances that Congress has established.
The case centers around the 1935 precedent set by Humphrey's Executor v. United States, which held that the president could only remove FTC commissioners for cause. However, conservative justices are skeptical of this rule, with Chief Justice John Roberts describing it as a "dried husk" and suggesting that its application to modern agencies may be limited.
Justice Samuel Alito expressed concerns about the potential for Congress to convert executive branch agencies into "multi-member commissions" with members protected from presidential removal. Meanwhile, Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted that broad delegations of power to independent agencies can raise constitutional issues related to individual liberty.
On the other hand, liberal justices are urging caution, with Ketanji Brown Jackson arguing that an unchecked president's authority over these agencies would undermine their expertise and represent a threat to American democracy. Elena Kagan also highlighted the importance of Congress maintaining oversight and control over these agencies, warning that the erosion of independence could lead to "massive, uncontrolled, unchecked power" in the hands of the president.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor took a strong stance against this trend, arguing that the independent regulatory agencies have been an essential part of the US government's structure since its founding. She also questioned why some justices would seek to dismantle this system without considering its historical context and the checks it provides on executive overreach.
The implications of these rulings are significant, as they could have far-reaching consequences for the balance of power in Washington and potentially embolden future presidents to exploit their authority over independent agencies.
i remember when congress was supposed to be able to hold the exec branch accountable now it sounds like trump can basically do whatever he wants with those independent agencies and its just not right 
i mean what's next, him being able to pick his own justices too? that would be a total disaster mark my words
, if the president can control those independent agencies, it's like he's above the law 
, that would be super unhealthy for our democracy 
...
I'm thinking... if the Supreme Court sides with Trump, it's gonna be a big deal! 
. I mean, I get that the Founding Fathers wanted to give the Exec branch some power, but this seems like an overstep. What about Congress getting its own say in stuff? That's what checks and balances are for 
. I'm worried we're gonna lose that independence thing... 
- the president becomes the ruler, and we're just along for the ride. And what really worries me is, who's gonna be the next one to get their hands on this power? The Democrats will just spin it around and say the Republicans are trying to undermine democracy... but I'm onto them 
. This whole thing reeks of a hidden agenda, in my opinion.
I mean, if the President has control over these agencies, that's like putting someone with a lot of power in charge of a firework factory 
. What happens when they can just set off whatever they want? 
The thought of a president having that much power over independent agencies is just straight-up scary 
. And what about accountability? If the president can just remove whoever he doesn't like, that's not exactly how democracy works, right? 
. I'm all for transparency, but come on, not at the expense of our constitutional rights 
.
. And let's be real, we've already seen enough of this with Trump's administration 
. If the president can just strip these agencies of their independence, it's like he's taking away our ability to hold him accountable 
. And I don't think that's a good thing at all 
.
!