Supreme Court limits civil service protections in Trump v. Slaughter

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 decision in Trump v. Slaughter, holding that the president may remove commissioners of independent agencies without cause. The ruling overturns remnants of the Humphrey Executor precedent and expands presidential removal authority over the administrative state.

Legal analysts say the decision weakens long‑standing civil‑service protections intended to keep federal hiring based on merit rather than political loyalty. It follows recent Court actions that reduced protections for Department of Education employees and narrowed the Voting Rights Act, raising concerns that the bureaucracy could become more politicized.