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The Supreme Court temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that reinstated Rebecca Kelly Slaughter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). President Trump had fired Slaughter, along with another commissioner, challenging a 1935 precedent limiting the president's power to remove FTC members without cause. The Supreme Court's action suggests it may grant the Trump administration's request for broader authority to fire independent agency members, potentially weakening protections against political influence. Slaughter's case challenges the 1914 law establishing the FTC and the 1935 Humphrey's Executor v. United States ruling.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.