Trump wins executive power case at Supreme Court
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to expand presidential authority to remove independent agency members, overturning a 90-year-old precedent. The court declined to hear Trump's appeal of the $5 million E. Jean Carroll verdict and upheld Mississippi's mail-in ballot deadline. Justices also released financial disclosures showing over $2 million in book royalties.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
President Donald Trump secured a landmark expansion of executive authority at the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, while facing setbacks in his bid to overturn the E. Jean Carroll verdict and challenge mail-in ballot rules. The court's 6-3 decision grants presidents broader power to remove members of independent federal agencies, overturning the precedent set in Humphrey's Executor v. United States nearly a century ago. The ruling stemmed from Trump's dismissal of Democratic Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, though the court noted the Federal Reserve's independence remains intact due to its unique historical status.
Trump hailed the ruling on Truth Social, calling it "the Greatest Increase in Presidential Power in the last 100 years" and stating that "90 years of precedent has been COMPLETELY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY OVERRULED." The decision marks a significant shift in the balance of power between the executive branch and independent agencies.
In a separate action, the Supreme Court declined to hear Trump's appeal of a $5 million civil judgment awarded to E. Jean Carroll. This leaves intact the 2023 jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her. Trump responded on Truth Social, labeling the lawsuit "a Fake Case" and vowing to continue fighting what he termed a "Weaponization and Lawfare Case." Carroll celebrated the decision on X, writing, "This Win Is For Every Woman in the World!!"
The court also voted 5-4 to uphold Mississippi's law allowing mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive within five days afterward. Trump renewed his push for stricter election measures on social media, including mandatory voter ID, proof of citizenship, and tighter restrictions on mail-in voting. He called on Congress to pass the SAVE AMERICA ACT.
Separately, the Supreme Court released annual financial disclosure reports revealing that four justices collectively earned more than $2 million from book deals in 2025. Eight of the nine justices filed their reports detailing outside income and gifts, while Conservative Justice Samuel Alito received a 90-day extension to submit his filing.
| Case | Outcome | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Power | Ruled 6-3 for Trump | Overturned Humphrey's Executor v. United States |
| E. Jean Carroll | Appeal declined | $5 million judgment remains intact |
| Mail-In Ballots | Ruled 5-4 against GOP | Upheld Mississippi's 5-day postmark rule |
How will the expanded removal power affect the operational independence and long-term policy stability of agencies like the FTC and SEC?
Will Congress attempt to legislate new protections for independent agency commissioners to counter the Supreme Court's ruling?
Could the legal rationale used to expand executive power over agency heads be applied to challenge the Federal Reserve's unique independence in future cases?
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