The U.S. Supreme Court has made a major decision that increases presidential power over independent federal agencies. This gives President Donald Trump more control over regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
In a 6-3 vote, the Court said presidents can remove commissioners of independent agencies at any time, ending a rule that had been in place for over 90 years. However, the Court did not apply this rule to the Federal Reserve, so the central bank remains independent for now.
Source: supremecourt.gov
This decision comes from Trump v. Slaughter, a case about President Trump firing two Democratic commissioners from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2025 without giving a legal reason. The Court decided that agencies with executive power must answer to the President, ending long-standing rules that had limited the President’s ability to remove commissioners.
While the ruling focused on the FTC, legal experts think it also affects the SEC and CFTC, which oversee most of the U.S. cryptocurrency industry. Commissioners at these agencies, who were usually seen as politically independent, can now be removed more easily by the President.
This decision could have a big impact on crypto regulation. The SEC and CFTC decide whether digital assets are securities or commodities and set enforcement and oversight priorities. Now, future rules may more closely match the White House’s goals.
The timing matters because lawmakers are now debating the CLARITY Act, which would change how the SEC and CFTC share regulatory duties. Democrats say keeping commissions politically balanced is important for fair rules. But the Court’s decision could weaken this by letting future presidents remove commissioners from any party.
The Court made a key exception for the Federal Reserve. In a separate decision the same day, it did not let the President remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. This shows the central bank has a special status, so monetary policy and banking supervision are still mostly protected from direct presidential control.
For the crypto industry, this ruling brings both chances and risks. If the administration supports crypto, it could set new rules faster with leaders at the SEC and CFTC who agree with its views. But future presidents with different goals could quickly change direction, which might lead to more uncertainty in the long run, even if decisions are made faster.
🚨 BIG WIN just moments ago at the Supreme Court: pic.twitter.com/yNjLRhqZVs
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 29, 2026
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