Supreme Court Gives Trump Power to Fire Regulators, But Protects Fed Official

In two rulings, the Supreme Court decided that President Trump can fire leaders of independent agencies for any reason. However, the court also protected the independence of the Federal Reserve, blocking the removal of one of its top officials, Lisa Cook. The decisions create a split. The court said the president has broad power to remove officials from most independent regulatory bodies. But it upheld a specific law that prevents the president from firing Federal Reserve board members at will. This means the Fed’s leaders, including Lisa Cook, can keep their jobs regardless of the president’s wishes. Other agency heads, such as those at the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Federal Trade Commission, can now be dismissed without cause. The rulings resolve a long-standing debate over presidential authority and agency independence. They give President Trump more control over many regulators while preserving the central bank’s insulation from political pressure.