Two Federal Trade Commission Commissioners were fired this week by the Trump Administration.
Democratic commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya were both removed by the White House.
FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson issued a statement about the action.
“President Donald J. Trump is the head of the executive branch and is vested with all of the executive power in our government. I have no doubts about his constitutional authority to remove Commissioners, which is necessary to ensure democratic accountability for our government. The Federal Trade Commission will continue its tireless work to protect consumers, lower prices, and police anticompetitive behavior.
“I wish Commissioners Slaughter and Bedoya well, and I thank them for their service.”
The Commission has five commissioners nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The commission can not have more than three commissioners from the same party.
Slaughter had served on the commission since May 2018 during the first term of President Donald Trump.
Bedoya was appointed to the FTC Commission in May 2022 under former President Joe Biden.
On the social media platform X, Bedoya called the firing illegal.
Slaughter also questioned the legality of the firing in a statement.
No appointments have been named to replace Bedoya or Slaughter.
