'This is huge': Judge guts Trump's ability to fire at will

[turbinetree]

By Bennito L. Kelty
Published July 17, 2026 8:14 PM ET

A judge dealt a setback to Trump's power by ruling his administration broke the law by firing a civil servant, per Politico.

According to reporting by Politico, a federal judge in Virginia ruled that the Trump administration violated federal law when it fired Mary Comans, the chief financial officer of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), without going through congressionally mandated steps.

"This is huge," said Mark Zaid, one of Comans' lawyers, according to Politico. "It's an incredibly significant victory."

-snip-

"For the last 140 years...the Supreme Court has affirmed the president does not have plenary power to remove inferior officers," Nachmanoff said from the bench, per Politico.

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-power-grab/

[mahina]

1. Huge is a big word

and correct.

Thanks!

[turbinetree]

3. Your welcome.............mahalo

[mahina]

6. Mahalo!

🤙🏼🤙🏼

[Cherokee100]

7. Aloha

Aloha 'brudda'. Kaneohe Bay, 68-70.

[sheshe2]

2. You're fired!

I guess in his addled mind he thinks he is still staring in The Apprentice.

[turbinetree]

4. Everyday ............

[WorseDayEver]

10. Cheeto Pedo NEVER actually fired anyone. TOO SCARED to face any of the contestants. All a video to a camera.

[sheshe2]

11. Oh, yes. I know.

[AllaN01Bear]

8. ding. this.

[NoMoreRepugs]

9. But does this Supreme Court give two shits what the last 150-200

years of the Supreme Court said and ruled????

[KPN]

17. That's the question.

My guess? No by 5-4 if not 6-3.

[DET]

12. That's Great!

I have never understood why nobody seemed to vigorously protest when DOGE started firing hundreds of Government employees. Elon wasn’t even a Government official (far as I can tell). Civil servants have always had rock solid protection from capricious firings - frankly, firings for pretty much any reason at all. I’m glad that this woman did not go quietly. Of course, we all know where this will ultimately end up and the odds of winning are not great, but at least someone is making a stand.

[Wednesdays]

13. It's essentially what got Andrew Johnson impeached

There were a lot of other charges against Johnson, but the main one was his attempt to fire Secretary of War Stanton without congress' consent.

[Martin68]

14. Keep fighting back. Every little bit helps.

[aka-chmeee]

15. Damn!

The title made me think his bellicosity had been curbed!

[catrose]

16. Who's going to enforce it?

We don’t have an impressive record of forcing the guy to follow any rules at all