Court’s action gives the justices additional time to consider Trump’s formal request to let him fire Rebecca Slaughter

The US supreme court allowed Donald Trump on Monday to keep a Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission away from her post for now, temporarily pausing a judicial order that required the reinstatement of the commissioner who the Republican president has sought to oust.

The court’s action, known as an administrative stay, gives the justices additional time to consider Trump’s formal request to let him fire Rebecca Slaughter from the consumer protection agency that enforces antitrust law before her term expires.

The stay was issued by John Roberts, the chief justice who handles emergency filings arising in Washington DC.