Trump's firings of federal officials set stage for next presidential power test
A federal appeals court is set to consider President Trump's effort to fire two immigration judges this fall, a case that could have significant implications for federal workers.
The Supreme Court recently expanded presidential power by striking down removal protections for members of the Federal Trade Commission, allowing the president to fire appointed board and commission members at will. As the high court deliberated on the constitutionality of Congress's efforts to shield those officials from political pressure, legal battles involving President Trump's efforts to fire various federal workers, including Justice Department lawyers, immigration judges, and FBI agents, have been progressing through the federal courts.
These cases could present the next test of presidential power and significantly impact civil service protections established since the late 1970s, according to legal experts. The central question is whether a civil service staffed by individuals selected and retained based on their expertise, qualifications, and job performance, rather than the president's political ideology, can exist.
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