In a 6-3 decision, a divided US Supreme Court expanded the president's power to fire top government officials. The ruling puts the White House firmly in control of potentially dozens of agencies that have long operated independently.
The Court struck down a precedent, between 90 and 91 years old, that had previously allowed Congress to shield members of certain independent agencies from being fired by the president at will. This precedent was intended to insulate these agencies from political influence by the executive and served as a check on the president's power.
As part of this decision, the justices allowed the president to fire a Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission.