Supreme Court Politicizes Most Independent Agencies

For Immediate Release: June 29, 2026

Contact: David Rosen, drosen@citizen.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court today issued its opinion in Trump v. Slaughter. The decision overrules Humphrey’s Executor v. United States (1935), in which the Court held that Congress may constitutionally create independent agencies whose commissioners can be removed only “for cause” – that is, for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance while in office. Rachel Weintraub, executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, issued the following statement:

“This decision overturns decades of precedent and puts the protections that Americans expect from their government at risk, by creating a clear pathway for President Trump to subvert most independent agencies to advance his own economic interests and those of his political allies. This will undermine the public interest missions that the agencies were created by Congress to uphold. This decision will make these agencies more susceptible to being captured by the corporations they are responsible for regulating.

“Congress, using its constitutional authority, has established independent agencies to fulfill various critical public-protection missions, while insulating them from direct political interference from the president. These agencies have been crucial to protecting the rights of workers; protecting consumers from unsafe products and unreasonable business practices, policing financial markets and investor protection, preventing discrimination, and ensuring our elections are free and fair.”