The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to allow the president to fire a member of the Federal Trade Commission, after lower courts ruled he lacks the authority to remove members of independent agencies without cause.
President Donald Trump moved to fire Rebecca Slaughter earlier this year, but lower courts ruled she could keep her job because the law only allows commissioners to be removed for issues such as misconduct or neglect of duty.
Earlier this week, an appeals court said Trump unlawfully fired Slaughter and that her firing was squarely at odds with Supreme Court precedent.
The Justice Department contends that the FTC and other executive branch agencies are under Trump’s control and that the president has the power to remove commissioners without cause.
The testing of the president’s removal power could lead the nation’s highest court to consider overturning a 1935 Supreme Court decision known as Humphrey’s Executor, in which justices unanimously ruled that presidents cannot fire independent board members without cause.
The ruling brought in an era of powerful independent federal agencies charged with regulating labor relations, employment discrimination, the airwaves and other matters.
That case also centered around the FTC, which was highlighted by lower-court judges in the lawsuit filed by Slaughter, who has been fired and rehired multiple times this year as the case worked its way through the courts.
The FTC is a regulator created by Congress that enforces consumer protection measures and antitrust legislation. The agency’s seats are typically made up of three members of the president’s party and two from the opposing party.
Slaughter was first appointed by Trump in 2018, and then later reappointed by former President Joe Biden. She is the only remaining Democrat on the FTC.
The high court has already allowed the removal of several other board members from independent agencies.
The justices have also suggested that Trump’s removal powers have limitations at the Federal Reserve, which could soon be tested as well in the case of Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
Factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, has blamed the ongoing crisis in the party on years…
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/an-in-ground-pool-in-a-backyard.jpg?id=61482727&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C180%2C0%2C181"/><br/><br/><p>Summer might be winding down, but if you've got a pool in your backyard, now's not the time to tune out! Starting next month, new province-wide <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-outdoor-pool-rules-changing">rules for residential outdoor pools</a> are coming into effect in Quebec, and not following them could land you with a hefty fine.</p><p>As of September 30, 2025, all residential outdoor pools in Quebec — including in-ground, above-ground, inflatable, and temporary setups — will need to meet safety standards that were initially rolled out <a href="https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/document/cr/S-3.1.02,%20r.%201" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">in 2010</a>. </p><p>Although these regulations have existed for over a decade, they previously only applied to new pools installed after 2010. But come fall, that exemption is gone, and every pool will need to be up to code, regardless of when they were installed or bought.</p><p>The change is part of an effort to make pools safer for everyone — and especially kids — in the province. The government wants to <a href="https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/adm/min/affaires-municipales/publications/ministere/securite_piscines_residentielles/GUI_InspecteurPiscineResidentielle.pdf">prevent possible drownings</a> by tightening up regulations, particularly for backyard setups that might seem safe but that actually pose drowning risks.</p><p>Quebec pool owners are encouraged to get familiar with these new rules and take the necessary steps to comply before the deadline, which is fast approaching.</p><p>Exactly what you need to do, however, depends on the type of pool you have at home.</p><h2>In-ground pools</h2><p>For in-ground and semi-in-ground pools, the rules are pretty straightforward: they must be fully enclosed by a fence that's at least 1.2 metres high. The pool's own walls don't count, even if they're relatively tall, and hedges and bushes won't qualify, either.</p><p>In some cases, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6841707">your property itself</a> or existing barriers might qualify under certain conditions. </p><p>Any gates or doors providing access to the pool area also need to close automatically and have a functional latch. Plus, they must be designed in a way so that they can't be climbed.</p><p>These pools are also required to have an easily-accessible ladder or steps for getting in and out of the water.</p><h2>Above-ground pools</h2><p>When it comes to above-ground pools, you might be off the hook for a fence if the pool walls are at least 1.2 metres high and difficult to climb — these can count as a natural barrier. If not, the pool must be surrounded by a fence.</p><p>Plus, if your setup includes a ladder or deck, those parts must be secured or appropriately blocked. </p><h2>Inflatable or temporary pools</h2><p>As for inflatable or temporary pools, if they're deeper than 60 centimetres (around two feet), they still need to be surrounded by a fence, no matter how long they're set up for. In some cases, you may even need a municipal permit, even if the pool's just for the summer.<br/></p><p>In all cases, keep anything that could be used to climb away from the pool fence — so no grills, picnic benches, trash bins, or planters within a metre of it.</p><p>And if your pool has a diving board, there's one more rule: it must meet <a href="https://hudson.quebec/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NAP_ReglPiscineResi_EN-VS.pdf">BNQ safety standards</a> to reduce the risk of serious spinal injuries, so double-check that your setup is compliant.</p><p>Some cities may have extra requirements, too, so it pays to check in with your municipality to see what exact rules apply where you live.<br/></p><p>Ignore this, and you could be hit with a fine: $500–$700, possibly hitting $1,000 if you've already been warned and haven't fixed things.</p><p>So, if you want to splash around without stressing, now's the time to double-check your setup. Call your municipality, inspect your pool's safety, and make sure you're ahead of the change!</p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
