Supreme Court issues opinions on two key federal employment cases

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Supreme Court handed President Trump a split decision Monday on his effort to exert full authority over the executive branch, protecting a Federal Reserve governor from removal while expanding presidential power over other independent federal regulatory agencies.

In a 5-4 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court ruled that Trump does not have the authority to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

“Under our precedents, Cook was entitled to notice and some opportunity to respond prior to her termination,” Roberts wrote in the majority opinion.

The ruling is a setback for the president’s effort to reshape the central bank, which he has repeatedly criticized for not lowering interest rates more aggressively.

In a separate 6-3 decision, also written by Roberts, the court gave the president authority to remove leaders of other independent federal regulatory agencies. That ruling overturns a 1935 Supreme Court precedent and allows Trump to remove Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter.

Trump responded on Truth Social, writing: “90 years of precedent has been COMPLETELY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY OVERRULED, greatly increasing Presidential Power at a time when it is most needed!”

With the pair of decisions, the court’s conservative supermajority has created what amounts to a Federal Reserve exception on presidential power. Aside from the Fed, the president can now reshape the leadership of independent federal agencies.