Trump’s Penchant for Firing Sets Up Independent Agency Battle

President-elect Donald Trump breaking tradition—and potentially the law—by firing leadership at independent agencies after he takes office in January would likely compel the US Supreme Court to rethink removal protections for those officials.

Democrats on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission appear to be prime termination targets because they’re on track to retain majority control of the agency into 2026.

The same goes for Democrats at the National Labor Relations Board, provided that its current chair wins Senate approval for another five-year term before December’s lame-duck congressional session expires. Management lobbyists raised that possibility in the immediate aftermath of Trump’s election ...