Fired FTC Commissioners Sue Trump Over Unlawful Dismissal, Citing Supreme Court Precedent
Commissioners Challenge Legality of Sudden Dismissal
Two former Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, have filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump. They claim their sudden termination violated long-standing legal protections for independent federal agencies.
According to the complaint, the commissioners were fired without cause on March 18, 2025, via an email from the White House. The message stated their removal was due to their service being “inconsistent with the Administration’s priorities.”
Supreme Court Precedent in Question
The lawsuit cites a landmark 1935 Supreme Court ruling in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, which restricts a president’s ability to remove FTC commissioners without just cause. The former commissioners argue Trump’s actions go directly against this “binding precedent.”
Legal experts and political analysts warn this move could weaken the independence of key regulatory agencies, like the FTC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC.
Sharp Criticism from Former FTC Member
Alvaro Bedoya condemned the firings on social media, stating that Trump’s intent is to “turn the FTC into a lapdog for his golfing buddies.” He stressed that removing commissioners without cause undermines democratic safeguards.
Trump Administration Responds
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, a Republican appointed by President Joe Biden, responded by defending the firings. He stated that Trump acted within his constitutional authority to remove agency officials exercising executive power.
Interestingly, during Ferguson’s Senate confirmation hearing, he had pledged to honor binding Supreme Court precedent. However, following the dismissals, he publicly supported Trump’s right to remove commissioners, citing the need for democratic accountability.
Legal Battle Ahead
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, demands that Bedoya and Slaughter be reinstated. Slaughter’s term was set to end in 2029, while Bedoya’s was to run through 2026.
The named defendants in the case include Donald Trump, Andrew Ferguson, Republican FTC Commissioner Melissa Holyoak, and FTC Executive Director David Robbins.
