Alvaro Bedoya, right, and Rebecca Slaughter, left, on July 13, 2023. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
President Trump on Tuesday fired Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter, the two Democrats serving as commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission, both announced.
The big picture: Republican FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson has pledged to keep up Big Tech cases, but is taking a much more MAGA approach to antitrust, Axios previously reported.
- It's the latest in Trump's numerous attempts to weaken independent agencies, which he sees as standing in the way of his fast-moving MAGA agenda.
What they're saying: "Today the President illegally fired me from my position as a Federal Trade Commissioner, violating the plain language of a statute and clear Supreme Court precedent," Slaughter said in an emailed statement.
- She wrote: "Why? Because I have a voice. And he is afraid of what I'll tell the American people."
- "The administration clearly fears the accountability that opposition voices would provide if the President orders Chairman Ferguson to treat the most powerful corporations and their executives—like those that flanked the President at his inauguration—with kid gloves."
Bedoya said in a statement posted to his X account that Trump had fired him as well, calling it illegal.
- "The President wants the FTC to be a lapdog for his golfing buddies. Who will Trump's FTC work for? Will it work for the billionaires or will it work for you?"
- Bedoya told Axios this sets a precedent for corruption, with decisions being impacted by the influence billionaire donors. He said he fears the FTC becomes like the DOJ, which threw out a case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams per Trump's request.
- "What this does is open the door to corruption, plain and simple," he said. "I have been watching what's happening around us and wondering whether it would eventually come to FTC, and I think that's what's happened today."
In a copy of Bedoya's firing email seen by Axios, Trent Morse, a deputy director of presidential personnel, writes on behalf of Trump that Bedoya is fired effectively immediately.
- In the email, Morse cites previous Supreme Court case Humphrey's Executor, arguing that the firings do not qualify as illegal under that case law because the FTC has "exercised substantial executive power."
- "Your continued service on the FTC is inconsistent with my Administration's policies. Accordingly, I am removing you from my office pursuant to my authority under Article II of the Constitution," the email reads.
Sens. Maria Cantwell and Amy Klobuchar, who serve on committees that oversee the FTC, both blasted the firings.
- "President Trump's dismissal of Commissioners Slaughter and Bedoya is not only illegal but also hurts consumers by undermining an independent agency that Congress established to protect consumers from fraud, scams, and monopoly power," Klobuchar said in a statement.
What to watch: Bedoya said he and Slaughter are still commissioners per their Senate-confirmed terms, and they plan to fight back in court.
- A spokesman for the FTC didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
- FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson posted a statement on X saying he has "no doubts" about Trump's "constitutional authority to remove Commissioners."
Editor's note: This story is developing and has been updated.
