The Trump administration has filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court to overturn lower court rulings that blocked the firing of three Biden-appointed regulators at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The appeal, submitted on Wednesday, seeks to reverse decisions by federal judges in Maryland and an appeals court that deemed the firings of Mary Boyle, Alexander Hoehn-Saric, and Richard Trumka Jr. unlawful. This legal action follows the Supreme Court’s recent endorsement of the Trump administration’s termination of two labor officials from the NLRB and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSP, a federal agency that adjudicates disputes related to federal employment).
The administration’s emergency appeal, which argues that the CPSC regulators have shown hostility toward the Trump agenda, is seen as a continuation of the White House’s broader effort to challenge judicial oversight of executive actions. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields condemned the lower courts for allegedly disregarding the Supreme Court’s previous decisions, calling the situation a clear case of judicial overreach. The Justice Department’s filing, which references the Wilcox case that affirmed the president’s constitutional authority to remove executive officers, suggests that the Trump administration is preparing for a direct confrontation with the Court over its stance on the matter.
Meanwhile, the three regulators, appointed by former President Biden, maintain that their removal was unjustified as they cannot be terminated without cause. The legal dispute has intensified following a federal judge’s ruling in Maryland that blocked the firings, with an appeals court subsequently upholding that decision. However, the administration insists that the CPSC officials’ actions have disrupted the agency’s operations, citing the need for their removal as necessary for administrative efficiency. This case is expected to be heard by Chief Justice John Roberts, who has already presided over similar appeals regarding the NLRB and MSPB cases, further underscoring the political and legal significance of the matter.
The appeal adds a new layer to the ongoing debate over the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches, with the Trump administration framing the dispute as a necessary step to uphold executive authority. The decision could set a legal precedent for removing officials from independent regulatory agencies, potentially reshaping how future administrations manage such entities. With the nation’s courts continuing to weigh in on executive power, the Supreme Court’s ruling may have far-reaching implications for the structure and function of federal regulatory bodies in the years ahead.