Authors Guild Condemns Illegal Firing of FTC Commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter
March 19, 2025
The Authors Guild strongly condemns President Trump’s illegal attempt to fire democratically-appointed Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter. The attempt is unconstitutional and goes against the long-established Supreme Court precedent that prevents a president from firing heads of independent commissions and agencies without cause. This precedent is vital to preserving the independence of agencies and insulating them from politically-motivated attacks.
The Authors Guild has worked closely with commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter on issues impacting authors, including collective action rights for authors. Both commissioners have been especially attentive to our concerns about concentrations of power in the market, particularly Amazon’s monopsony control over publishing, and have supported proposed solutions we have offered. One of the most important outcomes of our advocacy with the FTC is the agency’s policy statement clarifying that independent contractors’ organizing activities are shielded from antitrust liability and that the FTC would not pursue antitrust actions against independent contractors, which include all authors, for engaging in collective bargaining and organizing activities.
Both commissioners have said that they plan to fight their illegal termination in court. As an independent commission, the FTC plays a vital role in ensuring that economic markets remain fair for American consumers regardless of political party affiliations or ideologies. An assault on the independence of the FTC for the benefit of the billionaire class is an assault on democracy.
We are hopeful that courts will uphold the judicial principle of independence and allow commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter to continue their Senate-confirmed terms.