Today, Explained Everyone’s fired now
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Dec 10, 2025 
Ian Millhiser, a senior correspondent at Vox, and Noah Rosenblum, a legal historian at NYU, dive deep into a pivotal Supreme Court case that could empower Donald Trump to dismiss nearly anyone in government. They explore the implications of the unitary executive theory, shedding light on why protecting independent agencies like the FTC matters. Millhiser warns of the risks to agency independence, while Rosenblum provides historical context, detailing the fascinating tensions during FDR’s time that shaped removal laws. Together, they unravel the stakes of reevaluating Humphreys Executor.
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President's Broad Firing Claim
- The Trump administration fired many independent-agency officials and claims broad removal power under the unitary executive theory.
- That claim contests statutory limits protecting commissioners who can only be removed for cause.
Unitary Executive Argument Explained
- The administration invokes the unitary executive theory, arguing executive power requires presidential control over executive officers.
- If an office performs executive functions, the president should be able to remove its leaders at will, per that theory.
Humphreys' Executor's Central Role
- Slaughter's side rests heavily on Humphreys' Executor, a 90-year-old Supreme Court decision protecting multi-member independent agencies.
- Humphreys upheld Congress's ability to insulate certain agency officials from at-will removal.