A high-stakes legal battle is underway over whether presidents can dismiss members of independent federal agencies without cause. At issue is the removal of two officials—one from the National Labor Relations Board and one from the Merit Systems Protection Board—who argue their terminations violated constitutional protections meant to preserve agency independence. Trump administration lawyers counter that these boards wield executive power and must align with the president’s agenda. The case has broad implications for labor enforcement and could open the door to greater presidential control over agencies traditionally shielded from political influence.
See "2 officials fired by Trump return to court to challenge his power", Andrea Hsu, NPR, May 16, 2025