Supreme Court Overrules Landmark Humphrey's Executor Decision, Expanding Presidential Control Over Federal Agencies

The Supreme Court, in its June 29, 2026, decision in Trump v. Slaughter, has overruled the 90-year-old precedent set by Humphrey's Executor v. United States. The 6-3 ruling found the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) for-cause removal provision unconstitutional, thereby increasing presidential authority over the administrative state. This decision is expected to have significant implications for the independence of federal agencies and has drawn attention to the balance of power between the executive and independent bodies.