Trump has already faced lawsuits for firing members of other independent agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board [Getty]
President Donald Trump fired the two Democratic commissioners at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Tuesday, according to two sources familiar with the situation. This move marks another significant test of the independence of regulatory agencies.
The commissioners, Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, were dismissed by Trump, the sources said.
Trump has already faced lawsuits for firing members of other independent agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board.
The US Supreme Court ruled in 1935 that FTC commissioners can only be fired for good cause, such as neglecting their duties. This ruling is designed to protect independent, bipartisan multi-member agencies from direct White House control.
(Reuters)