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Supreme Court strengthens Trump's hold on key levers of government power | Reuters

reuters.com

The Supreme Court just handed Trump broad power to fire regulatory agency heads — a ruling called the high-water mark for a theory that puts all executive power in one set of hands.

Unitary Executive TheorySeparation of PowersPrincipal-Agent ProblemChecks and Balances

Theory Briefing

  • The Supreme Court granted Trump broad authority to remove regulatory agency heads, a power previously constrained by independence protections.
  • Legal commentators are calling the ruling the high-water mark for the unitary executive theory, which holds that the president must control all executive branch officers.
  • The decision tightens presidential grip on agencies that set rules on everything from finance to the environment, shifting the balance between branches.
  • The Court did draw at least one limit, refusing some element of Trump's requests — signaling the theory has boundaries still being contested.