Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to structure of Consumer Product Safety Commission

The Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the structure of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, leaving intact a lower court ruling that upheld the protection of its commissioners from removal by the president except for specific causes. This case raises concerns about the separation of powers and the ability of independent agencies to wield substantial executive power while being shielded from presidential authority. The dispute began when two advocacy groups sued the CPSC for denying their FOIA requests, arguing that the removal restriction for commissioners is unconstitutional. The Justice Department urged the Supreme Court to reject the appeal, citing legal issues with standing and historical precedent for independent agencies with removal protections.