SCOTUS Could Overturn 91-Year Precedent

A packed two-week stretch at the Supreme Court could reshape both President Trump's agenda and the power of the presidency. The justices, working through the final 20 cases of their term, are expected to rule on Trump's bid to curb birthright citizenship, his attempt to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, and his removal of Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter, among other issues, reports NBC News. Based on the arguments, the court appears likely to reject his effort to deny the 160-year legal precedent of automatic citizenship to most children born in the US to noncitizen parents and to block his attempt to oust Cook, expected moves Trump has publicly criticized.

At the same time, the court seems inclined to grant broader presidential authority to remove members of independent agencies, a long-term goal of Trump's, through a ruling on Slaughter's dismissal. A decision in favor of Trump would overturn 91 years of precedent giving Congress shielding power over certain executive branch firings, per the Hill. Also on deck: rulings on Trump-backed moves to end Temporary Protected Status for thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants and to expand the government's power to turn away asylum-seekers at the border. Despite some expected rulings against Trump, legal scholars say the conservative-majority court is still generally moving in a direction that strengthens executive power. The court's next rulings will arrive Thursday.