The Supreme Court ruled that President Trump's dismissal of FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter without cause was lawful, overturning a 91-year-old precedent protecting independent agency officials.
The decision significantly weakens protections for commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission and other independent agencies that have operated with removal restrictions for nearly a century.
The ruling allows presidents greater authority to remove agency heads, a power that has been constrained since the 1935 Humphrey's Executor decision. That case established that presidents could not fire independent agency commissioners without cause, preserving agency autonomy from executive pressure.
The FTC and similar agencies—including the Federal Reserve, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—historically operated with bipartisan leadership and insulation from presidential control.
The decision raises questions about the future independence of regulatory agencies that oversee major industries and consumer protections. Legal experts say the ruling could embolden presidents to reshape regulatory bodies more directly through personnel changes.
President Trump is expanding his data center infrastructure pledge to include Republican governors and major utilities. The agreement requires data center developers to cover their own energy and infrastructure costs.
Surging demand from data centers has increased public electricity costs by $23 billion, according to analysis. The trend reflects the infrastructure strain caused by AI and cloud computing expansion.
Countries worldwide are implementing age verification requirements and exploring dedicated online spaces for minors as concerns mount over social media's impact on child safety and wellbeing.
Instacart reported Q1 revenue of $1.02 billion, up 14% year-over-year, with gross transaction value reaching $10.29 billion. Growth slowed compared to the prior year's 16% rate, and shares dropped 11% on the earnings.