The Supreme Court has permitted President Donald Trump to proceed with the removal of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, marking a significant legal development. Chief Justice John Roberts authorized the temporary suspension of a lower court order that had mandated Slaughter’s reinstatement, allowing the Trump administration to maintain her dismissal while further legal proceedings unfold.

The decision stems from a dispute over Slaughter’s removal in March 2023, when she received an email from the White House informing her of her termination. Slaughter challenged the action, citing the Federal Trade Commission Act, which restricts presidential authority to remove commissioners only for cause, such as inefficiency or misconduct. Lower courts had previously ruled in her favor, ordering her return to the commission.

Roberts granted a temporary stay, halting the reinstatement process without issuing a final judgment. As the Circuit Justice for the D.C. Circuit, he acted independently under the Supreme Court’s shadow docket—a system for expedited emergency rulings. The stay preserves the status quo while the legal battle continues, with Slaughter required to respond to the administration’s appeal by a specified deadline.

This ruling aligns with Trump’s broader efforts to remove appointees from independent agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, amid ongoing litigation over the legality of such actions. The case underscores the complex interplay between executive power and judicial oversight in federal governance.