Purged officials call supreme court ruling a dagger to civil service

DIRECT ANSWER: Federal officials fired by Donald Trump are calling the supreme court's June 29 ruling in Trump v Slaughter a "dagger in the heart" of the civil service. Rebecca Slaughter, the former Federal Trade Commission commissioner whose termination triggered the case, warns it exposes independent agencies to political interference and pay-to-play corruption at the president's whim.

The Guardian reported on July 14 that more than 50 agency officials have been removed since January 2025 as the administration sought to overturn the 1935 Humphrey's Executor precedent. The 6-3 decision gives presidents at-will power to fire leaders of independent bodies including the FTC and Merit Systems Protection Board.

Key Takeaways

• The supreme court ruled 6-3 on June 29, 2026 that presidents may remove independent agency leaders without cause, overturning 91 years of precedent.
• Rebecca Slaughter's March 2025 FTC firing became the test case after Trump cited only that her service was "inconsistent with [the] administration's priorities."
• Cathy Harris of the Merit Systems Protection Board said the ruling points "a dagger at the heart of the civil service."
• A July 10 New York Times opinion warned the White House is sidestepping Congress on major private-industry decisions—potentially more consequential than the court ruling itself.

What did the supreme court rule in Trump v Slaughter?

On June 29, 2026, the court voted 6-3 to expand presidential authority over independent federal agencies, The Guardian reported. The ruling centered on Rebecca Slaughter, whom Trump fired by email in March 2025 while she was helping with her child's school play.

A federal judge reinstated Slaughter in July 2025, but the supreme court allowed her removal to proceed in September. The decision overruled Humphrey's Executor, which had limited when presidents could dismiss FTC commissioners. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the FTC "unquestionably exercises executive power" and must be controlled by the chief executive.

Why does Rebecca Slaughter call the ruling destructive?

Slaughter told The Guardian it is "hard to understand how the civil service survives at all." She worries about pay-to-play politics where wealthy donors receive favors, and agencies face removal threats when decisions conflict with the president or his donors.

"Are companies going to be excused from lying and cheating because they've donated to the ballroom or to the president's inauguration?" she asked. She warned that business supporters of the ruling may regret the shift when a future Democratic administration wields the same power.

What does Cathy Harris say about merit-based hiring?

After the ruling, the court declined to review the case of Cathy Harris, fired from the Merit Systems Protection Board, which protects merit-based federal hiring. Harris told The Guardian the decision "seriously points a dagger at the heart of the civil service" and could deter workers who fear politically motivated dismissals.

She cited a June 2026 New York Times report that the Trump administration secretly swayed the board to rule in its favor. "The White House will, without fear or without hesitancy, interfere with what used to be independent operations of these agencies," Harris said.

How could the ruling affect regulation and markets?

For readers tracking fintech and crypto alerts, the FTC and other watchdogs now sit closer to the White House. Writing in The Regulatory Review, former OIRA administrator Susan E. Dudley said the decision affirms presidential oversight under Executive Order 12,866—but also risks sharper policy swings between administrations.

A July 10 New York Times opinion argued that White House moves sidestepping Congress on major private-industry decisions may prove "a lot more worrying" than the supreme court's executive-power ruling alone.

What comes next for fired federal officials?

Deirdre Hamilton, a National Mediation Board member fired in October 2025, told The Guardian she accepted replacement but challenged leaving the three-member board without a nominee. Slaughter pursued litigation while fellow commissioner Alvaro Bedoya resigned because he could not afford to serve without pay. Congress could still act to shore up civil service protections, but fired officials say power has already shifted toward the presidency.