Description: A former federal official and agency head is suing the Trump administration after the president fired her for refusing to follow an executive order that calls for the federal government to end harmful gender-identity policies.
ADF applauds end of lawsuit challenging president’s authority to fire EEOC officials
Tuesday, Jul 7, 2026
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Matt Bowman, director of regulatory practice, regarding former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission member Jocelyn Samuels’ dismissal of her lawsuit against the Trump administration, Samuels v. Trump. Samuels dismissed the case following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in a similar lawsuit, Slaughter v. Trump, in which the court ruled that the Constitution grants the president authority to fire commissioners that lead federal executive agencies:
“Government officials are appointed to serve the people of America, not impose their divisive ideologies, like former Commissioner Samuels had a history of doing. Furthermore, executive branch officials are subject to the president, who has the constitutional authority, no matter who holds the office, to remove policy-setting officials who do not reflect his priorities. Executive agencies are not independent; the Constitution ensures that they are accountable to the president and, ultimately, the American people. We’re pleased the former commissioner has dropped her lawsuit and that the EEOC is free to pursue the president’s policies.”
ADF attorneys, representing Christian Employers Alliance and Choices Pregnancy Centers of Greater Phoenix, filed a motion to intervene and a proposed brief in support of dismissing the complaint in Samuels, urging the court to dismiss the case and uphold the president’s authority to fire federal agency heads.
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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