In the time that the FTC has been devoid of minority commissioners, Ferguson has taken steps to reduce the FTC’s independence from the executive branch. The agency’s consumer protection director told staff to stop calling the FTC “independent” in legal complaints. Ferguson has backed the White House’s assertion that Trump had the authority to fire his fellow commissioners. Republicans — including Trump administration officials — have advocated for a reevaluation the Supreme Court precedent known as Humphrey’s Executor that prevented Trump from firing Slaughter and Bedoya in the first place. Recent Supreme Court rulings suggest the justices might just be willing to give Trump that kind of power.