Supreme Court allows Trump to keep FTC commissioner off payroll for now

Source: CNN Politics

Updated Sep 8, 2025, 12:54 PM ET
PUBLISHED Sep 8, 2025, 11:13 AM ET


Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday allowed President Donald Trump to remove a member of the Federal Trade Commission for now, a temporary win for the White House as it extends control over independent agencies throughout the federal government. The short-term order, known as an administrative stay, is designed to give the justices more time to review Trump’s emergency request to fire Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, who has served on the FTC since 2018.

Roberts handles emergency appeals rising from the federal court of appeals in Washington. By itself, Roberts’ order does not signal whether Trump will ultimately win his appeal in Slaughter’s case. Roberts ordered Slaughter’s legal team to respond to Trump’s emergency appeal by September 15. Roberts’ order, which offered no explanation, will allow Trump to keep Slaughter out of work until the high court resolves the emergency case.

A divided federal appeals court had ordered Slaughter to be reinstated while the litigation over her firing plays out. The administration responded with an emergency appeal at the Supreme Court days later.

Trump fired Slaughter and another Democratic FTC commissioner in March. The agency enforces anti-trust and consumer protection laws. Its five board members, appointed by the president, serve seven-year terms and no more than three commissioners can be of the same political party. Slaughter told CNN that she respects the court’s decision and intends “to see this case through to the end.”

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/08/politics/supreme-court-ftc-commissioner-unpaid