1 of 3 | The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that Congress’ restriction of the president from firing independent agency employees without cause violates the separation of powers. File Pool photo by Win McNamee/UPI | License Photo
June 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that Congress' restriction of the president from firing independent agency employees without cause violates the separation of powers.
The court upheld President Donald Trump's firing of Rebecca Slaughter, a Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission, overturning 90 years of precedence. The ruling came down along ideological lines with the conservative majority upholding Slaughter's firing in a 6-3 decision.
Writing the majority opinion, Chief Justice Roberts said Congress' "for cause" removal protections, meant to shield independent agencies from political influence, violate the separation of powers.
"What text, history, and structure settle, our precedent confirms -- the president may remove his subordinates at will," Roberts wrote.
