Trump Administration Asks US Appeals Court to Block Order Reinstating FTC Commissioner Slaughter

Source: US News and World Report/Reuters

July 21, 2025, at 2:19 p.m.


(Reuters) -President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday asked a U.S. appeals court to block a court order that allowed Democratic U.S. Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter to resume her role at the agency, despite the White House’s effort to remove her from office.

The Justice Department in a filing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said the lower judge’s reinstatement of Slaughter runs afoul of the president’s executive powers under the U.S. Constitution.

The administration is challenging a July 17 order by U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington that said the White House violated federal law in removing Slaughter, who was appointed by Democratic former President Joe Biden. The case in the appeals court will mark the latest clash over the Republican Trump administration's efforts to fire some Democratic officials at federal agencies.

The U.S. Supreme Court in May ruled that Trump could bar two Democratic members of federal labor boards from their posts while they challenge the legality of his dismissal of them. The White House, FTC and lawyers for Slaughter did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2025-07-21/trump-administration-asks-us-appeals-court-to-block-order-reinstating-ftc-commissioner-slaughter