Judge Blocks Trump’s Bid to Oust Consumer Safety Board Members

In a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape federal agencies, a Maryland federal judge has ruled that his attempt to oust three Democratic members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) was unlawful. U.S. District Judge Matthew Maddox, appointed by President Biden, ordered the reinstatement of commissioners Mary Boyle, Alexander Hoehn-Saric, and Richard Trumka Jr., dealing a blow to Trump’s push to exert control over independent agencies.

Maddox’s ruling hinges on the legal structure of the CPSC, a five-member board designed with staggered terms to ensure independence. He argued that this setup does not infringe on Trump’s executive powers under Article II of the Constitution. Unlike other cases, the Trump administration failed to provide evidence of neglect or malfeasance by the commissioners, a legal requirement for their removal.

This decision sets the stage for another high-stakes legal battle, likely headed to the Supreme Court, which recently upheld Trump’s removal of members from other boards like the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The ongoing tug-of-war over presidential authority recalls the 1935 Humphrey’s Executor ruling, which limits a president’s power to fire independent board members without cause.

For now, the reinstated commissioners can resume their roles, but the Trump administration is expected to appeal, keeping the spotlight on the delicate balance between executive power and agency independence.