Partnership for Public Service statement on the Supreme Court overturning a century of precedent on independent agencies 

WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today released the following statement from President and CEO Max Stier on the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Slaughter, overturning nearly a century of precedent and giving the president the power to fire the heads of independent agencies for any reason or no reason at all:

“Today’s ruling fundamentally remakes our government by judicial fiat, preventing Congress from designing our government to value consensus and expertise over pure partisanship. Congress created bodies like the Federal Trade Commission, National Labor Relations Board and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to function through deliberation: multi-member bodies representing different political parties and often appointed by different presidents so that no single political actor could dictate their decisions.

“A consumer safety commission should pull a dangerous product from shelves because it is dangerous. A labor board should protect workers’ rights because the law requires it. Without the guarantee of independence, boards and commission members will now make decisions under the constant threat of politically motivated removal. That is compliance, not independence, and the American people will pay the price.”

For more on the erosion of independent boards and commissions that relate to today’s ruling, read our recent blog on the unprecedented steps taken to undermine these institutions.

The Partnership for Public Service is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy.

Over the past 25 years and across five presidential administrations, we have offered government agencies and leaders crucial training and insights to better serve the public, championed legislation for effective government and shined a spotlight on the achievements of the federal workforce. 

Now, building on our decades of experience, we engage the public about the value of government and how its erosion harms us all and advance reforms that seek to make our federal institutions more effective, responsive and accountable to the American people. We also strengthen leadership in federal, state and local government, help federal workers navigate an increasingly complex federal environment and provide former public servants with opportunities to shape efforts to transform government.

Visit ourpublicservice.org, follow us @PublicService and subscribe today to get the latest federal news, information on upcoming Partnership programs and events, and more.

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