1. United States
2. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose any efforts to weaken the independence of federal regulatory agencies, particularly in light of the Supreme Court case concerning the fired FTC commissioner. This case represents a critical test of whether independent agencies can function free from improper executive interference. The Federal Trade Commission was designed as an independent agency to protect consumers and ensure fair competition in the marketplace without political pressure. When commissioners can be removed at will by the president, rather than only for cause as current law requires, it undermines the agency's ability to make decisions based on evidence and law rather than political expediency. This affects every constituent who relies on the FTC to prevent fraud, stop anticompetitive mergers, and protect their personal data. The separation of powers dispute at the heart of this case has profound implications beyond the FTC. Independent agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board all operate under similar protections. If the Supreme Court rules that presidents can fire commissioners without cause, it would fundamentally reshape how these agencies function and potentially expose them to political manipulation that serves corporate interests over consumer protection. I ask that you publicly support maintaining strong independence protections for federal regulatory commissioners and oppose any legislative efforts to weaken these safeguards. Your constituents depend on agencies like the FTC to enforce laws that protect them from predatory business practices, deceptive advertising, and monopolistic behavior. These protections should not be subject to the political winds of any administration. Please make your position clear on this issue and work with colleagues to preserve the structural independence that allows regulatory agencies to serve the public interest effectively.