The article discusses the recent firings of two Federal Trade Commissioners, Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya, amid concerns about executive power and democratic accountability. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson supports President Trump's authority to dismiss commissioners, asserting it aligns with executive powers. Slaughter, however, warns that these actions could destabilize government structures, particularly affecting the Federal Reserve's independence, as her own removal raises questions about the job security of other key financial regulators appointed by previous administrations. The broader implications of the firings suggest a tightening control over independent regulatory agencies by the executive branch.
In statements to the media following the firings, FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson (R) said that the president is well within his authority as head of the executive branch to fire the commissioners. President Donald J. Trump is the head of the executive branch and is vested with all of the executive power of our government, Ferguson told the The New York Times. I have no doubts about his constitutional authority to remove commissioners, which is necessary to ensure democratic accountability for our government.
It's not just about the FTC, it's about all of the structures of government that protect market stability," Slaughter said on CNBC. "If I can be fired, I don't know why Jerome Powell can't be fired. He was actually appointed by President Trump around the same time as me in early 2018. And so, the markets that depend on the stability provided by government institutions are now at risk."
Collection
[
|
...
]