On April 10, the Senate voted 50-46 along party lines to approve the nomination of Mark Meador for Commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). He joins fellow Republicans Chairman Andrew Ferguson and Commissioner Melissa Holyoak. Just after the Senate Commerce Committee approved his nomination last month by a bipartisan vote of 20-8, President Trump fired the two Democratic Commissioners, Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter. However, their terms do not end until 2026 and 2029, respectively. Bedoya and Slaughter have sued the Administration over the firings, asking the court to reinstate them at the FTC. There has not yet been a ruling on their case. However, this week, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts allowed President Trump to temporarily fire heads of two other independent agencies – the National Labor Relations Board and Merit Systems Protection Board – while the Court deliberates how to handle those firings, along with ones at the FTC and any future similar firings. ICCFA will continue to report on developments of these cases.
