WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court today, in Trump v. Slaughter, ruled in a 6-3 decision that the Humphrey’s Executor case is overruled and that President Trump is within his constitutional authority to hire and fire officials exercising executive authority, which the Constitution placed under his control.

Zack Smith, senior legal fellow and manager of The Heritage Foundation’s Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy Program, made the following statement:

“For almost 90 years, prior bad precedent dating back to the New Deal Era has incorrectly handicapped Presidents of both political parties from being able to remove officials that they disagree with. 

"Today, the Supreme Court correctly said that at the end of the day, ‘this is not a close case. The FTC’s for-cause removal provision violates the separation of powers.’ This decision is a win for our constitutional system and for the rule of law. And it will likely impact many other so-called independent agencies beyond the FTC.”