The Supreme Court just delivered a bombshell ruling that could change American government forever. On Wednesday, Chief Justice John Roberts allowed President Trump to temporarily remove two board members from independent agencies. This decision might signal the court's support for Trump's effort to remove limits on his power to hire and fire federal officials.
The case involves two women who thought they had job protection. Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board and Cathy Harris from the Merit Systems Protection Board were both fired by Trump before their terms expired. Both agencies help workers when they have problems with their jobs.
What Makes This Case So Important
The case raises broad constitutional questions about whether Congress can set up agencies that prevent the president from removing officials without cause. For 90 years, a law called Humphrey's Executor has protected these agency members from being fired without good reason.
In the 90 years since the NLRB was founded, the president has never removed a member of its board. Trump is the first president to try this. Legal experts are calling this move "blatantly illegal" under current law.
The Supreme Court's decision came quickly. The full D.C. Circuit ruled 7-4 to put the district court orders back in place, meaning Wilcox and Harris could go back to their jobs. But Trump's team immediately asked the Supreme Court to step in.
Why Federal Workers Are Worried
These two agencies do important work for American workers. The NLRB handles hundreds of cases every year when companies treat workers unfairly. The Merit Systems Protection Board handles disputes involving federal employees and protects them from political discrimination.
The MSPB is a critical bulwark against unjustified and politicized firings of civil servants. Without these protections, federal workers worry they could be fired for political reasons instead of job performance.
The timing is especially concerning because more than 8,000 workers have filed cases with the board since Trump returned to the presidency in January. This represents a massive surge in federal workers seeking protection from firings.
Constitutional Battle Over Presidential Power
Trump's legal team argues that Article II of the Constitution empowers the president to remove at-will members of multi-member boards that exercise "substantial executive power". They believe Congress cannot limit the president's authority to fire executive branch officials.
Judge Beryl Howell strongly disagreed, writing "An American president is not a king — not even an 'elected' one — and his power to remove federal officers and honest civil servants like plaintiff is not absolute".
The judge called Trump's constitutional arguments "contrary to Supreme Court precedent and over a century of practice." But the Supreme Court's conservative majority might see things differently.
What Could Happen Next
If the Supreme Court ultimately sides with Trump, this could affect about 20 other independent agencies, including the Federal Reserve, Federal Trade Commission, and Consumer Product Safety Commission. Legal experts warn this could create "a true seismic shift in how our government operates."
Already, there are concerns that if Humphrey's Executor is overturned, Trump would be at liberty to fire members of other independent agencies, including the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve's independence is considered essential for economic stability.
The case also raises broader questions about the separation of powers. Congress created these agencies out of one basic vision: that in certain spheres of government, a group of knowledgeable people from both parties—none of whom a President could remove without cause—would make decisions likely to advance the long-term public good.
Immediate Impact on Agency Operations
Right now, both agencies are struggling to function properly. The MSPB "no longer has a quorum" but it "remains in business and its work continues," though it won't be able to issue final rulings on workplace disputes raised by federal employees.
The NLRB is facing similar problems. The five-member board lacked a quorum after Wilcox's removal. This means hundreds of pending cases involving major companies like Amazon, Tesla, Walmart, and Apple cannot move forward.
Looking Forward
The Supreme Court will likely hear full arguments on this case soon. The court could hear arguments at a special session in May and issue a decision by early summer. This timeline means we could know the fate of independent agencies within months.
For now, Trump has gotten what he wanted. The Supreme Court's temporary ruling allows him to keep these officials fired while the legal battle continues. This sends a strong signal that the conservative majority might be willing to dramatically expand presidential power.
The outcome of this case could reshape the federal government for generations. If Trump wins, it would mark the end of nearly a century of independent agency oversight and give future presidents unprecedented control over federal regulators.
