{"id":2518883,"date":"2025-12-08T16:43:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T21:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sotomayor-claims-trump-doj-is-asking-supreme-court-to-destroy-the-structure-of-government-in-ftc-firing-case\/"},"modified":"2025-12-08T16:45:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T21:45:43","slug":"sotomayor-claims-trump-doj-is-asking-supreme-court-to-destroy-the-structure-of-government-in-ftc-firing-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sotomayor-claims-trump-doj-is-asking-supreme-court-to-destroy-the-structure-of-government-in-ftc-firing-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Sotomayor claims Trump DOJ is asking Supreme Court to &#8216;destroy the structure of government&#8217; in FTC firing case"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsotomayor-claims-trump-doj-is-asking-supreme-court-to-destroy-the-structure-of-government-in-ftc-firing-case%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2518883&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The supreme Court recently heard arguments in the case *Trump v. Slaughter*, which centers on whether President Donald Trump could fire Rebecca Slaughter, a Democrat-appointed Federal Trade commission (FTC) commissioner, without cause. Justice Sonia Sotomayor sharply questioned the solicitor General, D. John Sauer, arguing that allowing such a firing would drastically change the current government structure by overturning the longstanding 1935 precedent set in *Humphrey&#8217;s executor v. United States*. This precedent requires presidents to provide cause when removing autonomous agency heads, thereby protecting the independence of such agencies from executive overreach.<\/p>\n<p>Sotomayor emphasized that neither ancient English governance nor early American legal principles supported an unchecked presidential removal power over independent agencies. She contended the justice Department&#8217;s stance threatens to undermine Congress&#8217;s role in maintaining agency independence. Sauer countered, asserting that *Humphrey&#8217;s* and subsequent expansion of independent agencies represented a essential alteration to government structure that shoudl be reversed.<\/p>\n<p>While liberal justices expressed skepticism toward the DOJ&#8217;s arguments, conservative justices appeared more critical of the opposing side.*Trump v.Slaughter* is the third recent case involving executive firing powers over independent agencies brought before the Supreme Court, which has temporarily allowed such firings but is now poised to address the constitutional questions at their core. A ruling on this meaningful separation-of-powers issue is expected by June 2026.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Sotomayor claims Trump DOJ is asking Supreme Court to &lsquo;destroy the structure of government&rsquo; in FTC firing case<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2424858\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Justice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/sonia-sotomayor\/\">Sonia Sotomayor<\/a> grilled Solicitor General D. John Sauer on Monday over his argument that the president should be permitted to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-notches-legal-wins-after-series-of-setbacks\/\" title=\"Trump notches legal wins after series of setbacks\">fire <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-keeps-pause-on-trump-bid-to-fire-watchdog-head\/\" title=\"... keeps pause on Trump bid to fire watchdog head -\">independent agency heads<\/a><\/a> without cause, claiming such a ruling would be a radical change of the government&rsquo;s current structure.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a> heard arguments in <em>Trump v. Slaughter<\/em> on Monday, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3907415\/trumps-firing-power-faces-major-test-at-the-supreme-court\/\">weighing whether<\/a> President Donald Trump may fire Democrat-appointed Rebecca Slaughter from the Federal Trade Commission without cause, possibly expanding the president&rsquo;s firing power over independent agency heads.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3908676\/supreme-court-grapples-executive-power-independent-agencies\/\">Supreme Court grapples with how much <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-grapples-with-how-much-executive-power-independent-agencies-really-exert\/\" title=\"... with how much executive ... ... really exert\">executive power independent agencies<\/a> really exert<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3907415\/trumps-firing-power-faces-major-test-at-the-supreme-court\/\">Trump&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >firing power faces major test<\/a> at the Supreme Court<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3908874\/supreme-court-agrees-hear-challenge-trump-birthright-citizenship-order\/\">Supreme Court agrees to hear challenge to Trump&#8217;s birthright citizenship order<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Sotomayor, early on in the lengthy hearing, asked Sauer if the high court had previously issued a ruling reversing a prior ruling that &ldquo;fundamentally altered the structure of government.&rdquo; She then claimed the Justice Department was asking the high court to &ldquo;distort&rdquo; the structure of government by reversing its long-standing 1935 precedent in <em>Humphrey&rsquo;s Executor v. United States<\/em>, which required presidents to show cause for the firings of FTC commissioners.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Neither the King nor parliament nor prime ministers, England at the time of the founding, ever had an unqualified removal power,&rdquo; Sotomayor said. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re asking us to say that at a time, the founding, when the Constitution doesn&rsquo;t speak about this at all, where there was robust debate over this issue among legal scholars at the time, that we ourselves have said repeatedly in <em>Humphrey&rsquo;s<\/em> and other cases, <em>Wiener<\/em>, even in <em>Myers<\/em>, that those cases you mentioned did not establish this absolute power of the president.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;re asking us to destroy the structure of government and to take away from Congress its ability to protect its idea that the government is better structured with some agencies that are independent,&rdquo; she added.<\/p>\n<p>Sauer rejected that assertion, claiming that the Trump administration&rsquo;s position, that the president should have the power to remove independent agency heads without cause, would instead undo a previous alteration of government.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The fundamental alteration of the structure of the government was ushered in by <em>Humphrey&rsquo;s<\/em>, and then the Congress kind of took <em>Humphrey&rsquo;s<\/em> and ran with it in the building of the modern administrative state and the proliferation of independent agencies that are insulated from democratic control,&rdquo; Sauer said.<\/p>\n<p>While Sotomayor and the other liberal justices were sharply skeptical of Sauer&rsquo;s arguments, the conservative majority on the high court <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3908676\/supreme-court-grapples-executive-power-independent-agencies\/\">appeared more skeptical of arguments<\/a> from Slaughter&rsquo;s lawyer, Amit Agarwal. <\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3908676\/supreme-court-grapples-executive-power-independent-agencies\/\">SUPREME COURT GRAPPLES WITH HOW MUCH EXECUTIVE POWER INDEPENDENT AGENCIES REALLY EXERT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The&nbsp;<em>Slaughter<\/em>&nbsp;case is the third in which the justices have seen an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-courts-ftc-reinstatement-sets-up-likely-supreme-court-clash-over-humphreys-executor\/\" title=\"Appeals court&#039;s ... reinstatement sets up likely ... clash over Humphrey&#039;s Executor\">independent agency head firing<\/a> on their emergency docket in recent months, with the high court&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3420113\/supreme-court-firings-independent-agency-heads-trump\/\">allowing firings in the interim<\/a>&nbsp;in the two previous cases. With&nbsp;<em>Slaughter<\/em>, the high court again allowed the firing in the interim but also elevated the case to its merits docket, paving the way for the justices to consider the constitutional questions behind the firings rather than just the procedural issue of whether agency heads can stay on while the case plays out.<\/p>\n<p>A decision in&nbsp;<em>Trump v. Slaughter<\/em>&nbsp;is expected within the coming months, with all decisions for the Supreme Court&rsquo;s current term expected to be released by the end of June 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sotomayor says Trump DOJ seeks to &#8216;destroy government structure<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2518884,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25259487599062.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[68449,68450,11029,32275,36912],"class_list":["post-2518883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-ftc-firing","tag-government-structure","tag-sotomayor","tag-supreme-court","tag-trump-doj"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25259487599062.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2518883"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518883\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2518887,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518883\/revisions\/2518887"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2518884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2518883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2518883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2518883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}