US Supreme Court Limits Trump's Attempts to Remove Fed Official and Count Mail‑in Ballots

On the penultimate day of the 2025‑2026 term, the U.S. Supreme Court issued several rulings that curbed President Donald Trump’s efforts to expand executive authority. In a narrow 5‑4 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts joined the three liberal justices to block Trump’s attempt to remove Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook, writing that presidents risk “the calamities that could arise” if they can unilaterally dismiss central‑bank officials. The Court also held that states may count mail‑in ballots postmarked by Election Day even if received later, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett affirming that election‑related disputes are best resolved through the democratic process. Additionally, the Court declined to review a $5 million defamation judgment against Trump stemming from a 2023 jury finding. These decisions signal limits on presidential power over independent regulators and election administration.