Tyrant Trump illegally fired two Democratic Federal Trade Commission members

In a move that has ignited legal and political debate, President Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed the two Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), leaving the agency under the exclusive control of its Republican commissioners.

The FTC, which oversees antitrust enforcement and consumer protection laws, is a key regulator of the tech industry and other sectors. The firings of Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter have raised questions about the independence of federal agencies and the limits of presidential authority.

Both Bedoya and Slaughter announced their dismissals on the social media platform X, with each asserting that the president’s actions were illegal. Slaughter stated, “The law protects the independence of the Commission because the law serves the American people, not corporate power.” Bedoya, who indicated his intention to sue over the firing, wrote, “I’ll see the president in court.”

The White House confirmed the dismissals but offered no further comment. The FTC, established in 1914, operates under a bipartisan structure, with no more than three of its five commissioners permitted to belong to the same political party. The removal of Bedoya and Slaughter leaves the commission with only two members, both Republicans: Chair Andrew Ferguson and Commissioner Melissa Holyoak. Lina Khan, the former Democratic chair of the FTC, resigned in January.

The dismissals are part of a broader pattern of President Trump removing Democratic members of independent agencies without cause, a practice that has drawn legal challenges and is likely to be reviewed by the Supreme Court. Earlier this month, a federal judge ordered the reinstatement of Gwynne Wilcox, a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), after Trump fired her shortly after taking office in January. Judge Beryl A. Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia called the president’s rationale for the firing “flat wrong.” The White House has appealed the decision, and the case is expected to reach the Supreme Court.

The FTC’s enabling statute allows the president to remove commissioners only for reasons of “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.” Bedoya, who has served since May 2022, had four years remaining in his term, while Slaughter, sworn in in May 2018, was nearing the end of her tenure. Both have vowed to challenge their dismissals in court.

The FTC has been at the forefront of efforts to regulate competition and privacy in the tech industry. Under Democratic leadership during the Biden administration, the agency pursued aggressive antitrust actions, including a landmark case against Amazon and investigations into Microsoft’s dealings with OpenAI. The FTC also scrutinized Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) for potential violations of a privacy settlement and challenged mergers and acquisitions in the AI and gaming sectors.

The firings have cast uncertainty over the future of these cases and the agency’s ability to function as an independent regulator. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), a prominent advocate for antitrust enforcement, criticized the dismissals, stating, “Illegally gutting the Commission will empower fraudsters and monopolists, and consumers will pay the price.” She emphasized the importance of a bipartisan FTC in handling complex consumer protection and antitrust cases that often face significant political and corporate resistance.

FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson defended the president’s authority, stating, “President Donald J. Trump is the head of the executive branch and is vested with all of the executive power in our government. I have no doubts about his constitutional authority to remove Commissioners, which is necessary to ensure democratic accountability for our government.”

However, critics argue that the dismissals undermine the independence of federal agencies and could set a dangerous precedent.

William Kovacic, a former Republican chair of the FTC and current law professor at George Washington University, noted that the move appears to signal the administration’s intent to exert complete control over independent regulatory bodies.

“This is a dramatic assertion of presidential authority,” Kovacic said.

The firings come at a time when the FTC’s role in regulating the tech industry has become increasingly contentious.

While leaders from both parties have historically supported antitrust actions against tech giants, the Biden administration’s aggressive enforcement strategy drew criticism from some business leaders, including Elon Musk, who accused the agency of conducting a harassment campaign.

The dismissals could signal a shift in the FTC’s approach under Republican leadership, potentially impacting ongoing cases and future enforcement actions.

As legal challenges to the dismissals move forward, the controversy highlights broader questions about the balance of power between the executive branch and independent agencies. The outcome of these cases could have far-reaching implications for the structure of federal governance and the ability of agencies like the FTC to operate free from political interference.

For now, the FTC’s ability to carry out its mission remains in flux, leaving consumers, businesses, and policymakers to grapple with the consequences of an agency stripped of its bipartisan foundation. The coming legal battles will determine not only the fate of Commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter but also the future of independent regulatory oversight in the United States.