October Term 2025 · Docket 25-332
Can the President Fire an FTC Commissioner Without Showing Cause?
The Trump administration argues the Constitution lets a president remove FTC Commissioner Gwynne Slaughter without cause. Slaughter says a federal law protecting her job controls. The Supreme Court must decide how far Congress can go in limiting the president's removal power.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
General Sauer argued for the administration that the current structure lets Congress, rather than the president, control these agencies, which he called a huge separation-of-powers problem.
Mr. Agarwal argued for Slaughter that the president's constitutional duty to execute the law does not give him power to violate that law. And That the sides that brought the case claim the president was free to fire Commissioner Slaughter without cause in violation of the FTC Act.
Justice Thomas asked how far the administration's theory goes and whether it could be completely arbitrary. He asked General Sauer for one example of a permissible restriction on removing a principal officer. And Asked whether any restriction is permissible for a multi-body agency such as the FTC.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the administration's reliance on an economic case, asking what other case supports its position, and asked about the removal power instead of other powers.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 134, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 134, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 143, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 143, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 166, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 166, lines 55-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Congress shields certain agency leaders from removal unless the president shows cause, such as inefficiency or neglect. The Trump administration says that shield violates the Constitution's separation of powers because it blocks the president from controlling executive officials. Slaughter says the law stands, and the president cannot fire her without following it.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 166, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 166, lines 55-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-27
How the case got here
A lower court ruled against the administration and let Slaughter keep her position. The administration asked the Supreme Court to reverse that ruling and recognize the president's power to remove her without cause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 143, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 143, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-7
What each side wants
The administration, represented by General Sauer, wants the Court to hold that the president may remove agency officials without showing cause. It argues that otherwise Congress, not the president, controls these agencies, creating a separation-of-powers problem.
Slaughter, represented by Mr. Agarwal, wants the Court to uphold the removal limits in the FTC Act. He argues the president's duty to execute the law does not let him violate that law by firing officials without cause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 166, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 166, lines 55-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-27
What each side says
The administration argues Congress, not the president, effectively controls these agencies under the current structure, which it calls a serious separation-of-powers problem.
Slaughter argues the removal protections were designed to let agency structures withstand changes in political power over time. And That the president's constitutional duty does not permit him to violate the law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 166, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 166, lines 55-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-27
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked how far the administration's theory extends and whether it could become completely arbitrary. He also asked General Sauer to give one example of a permissible restriction on removing a principal officer. And Asked whether any restriction is permissible for a multi-body agency like the FTC.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the administration's reliance on an economic case, asking what other cases support its position, and asked about the removal power itself.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 134, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 134, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
Why it matters
The ruling could reshape how much control presidents have over independent agencies such as the FTC. Chief Justice Roberts noted it can be hard to tell whether agencies perform executive or legislative functions, citing the Library of Congress as an example.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 166, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 166, lines 55-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-27
What the Court decided
The Federal Trade Commission's rule that its commissioners can be fired only for certain listed reasons conflicts with the Constitution's separation of powers. The President may therefore fire FTC commissioners at will, meaning for any reason or no reason at all.
The Supreme Court reversed the lower court's judgment in favor of Slaughter and remanded the case for further proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Opinion — file page 1, lines 1-1 — Opinion, file page 1, lines 1-1
- Official Supreme Court Opinion — file page 7, lines 1-1 — Opinion, file page 7, lines 1-1
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
- Official Court disposition document (date not established)
- Official Court disposition document (date not established)
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 166, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 166, lines 55-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 166, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 166, lines 55-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-27
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Removed an unsupported statement that the Court had not ruled; the available source set did not establish that absence.
- Revision 3 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Corrected unsupported no-ruling language and clarified that the article's disposition summary is incomplete.
- Revision 4 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Added the holding and disposition from the verified official Court opinion.
- Revision 5 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.