Trump v. Slaughter · ¶76

And third, the FTC files civil suits on behalf of the United States in federal court. It may select its remedies freely— from injunctions, §53(b), to civil penalties, §45(m), to any relief “necessary to redress injury to consumers,” including the “refund of money or return of property,” §57b(b). As we have said many times, the “discretionary power to seek judicial relief ” lies at the very core of executive authority. Buckley, 424 U. S., at 138; see also, e.g., United States v. Texas, 599 U. S. 670, 678–679 (2023) (it is up to the Executive to “decide how to prioritize and how aggressively to pursue legal actions against defendants who violate the law” (internal quotation marks omitted)). That “quintessentially executive” power may not be cleaved off from the Executive Branch. Seila Law, 591 U. S., at 219.

slip opinion, revised 7/07/26
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