TL/DR –
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled President Trump’s attempt to remove Hampton Dellinger as the head of the Office of Special Counsel to be “unlawful”. Trump had emailed Dellinger his termination during a period of widespread cuts to the federal workforce, but Dellinger challenged this, stating that it violated federal law due to special counsels only legally being removable by presidents for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. This ruling could lead to a Supreme Court case, and for now, Dellinger will remain in his position as the case continues in lower courts.
Unlawful removal of Federal Watchdog Agency Head by Trump, says DC Judge
US President Donald Trump’s bid to oust Hampton Dellinger, head of the federal watchdog agency, was declared ‘unlawful’ by a federal judge in Washington, D.C. This is expected to escalate a Supreme Court battle.
The Special Counsel’s role is to scrutinize and highlight unethical or illegal activities targeting federal civil servants, Judge Amy Berman Jackson stated in her ruling.
Trump dismissed Dellinger via email last month as part of huge federal workforce reductions, which included nearly 24 other government watchdogs. Dellinger countered the dismissal, claiming it violated federal law.
Dellinger was temporarily reinstated by Jackson, who later issued a restraining order to extend the stay. The decision was upheld by a 2-1 vote in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, despite an appeal by the Trump administration.
The Justice Department appealed to the Supreme Court to affirm Trump’s right to fire Dellinger. However, the Supreme Court allowed Jackson’s decision to persist, keeping Dellinger in his role while the case progresses in the lower courts.
Dellinger’s role as the head of the Office of Special Counsel involves protecting federal employees from prohibited personnel practices, including retaliation for whistleblowing, the judge noted in her ruling. Dellinger stated that if he could be terminated without reason, it would hinder his office’s functions.
Following the judge’s ruling, the Trump administration lodged an appeal with the D.C. Circuit Court. Dellinger took office in March 2024, appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate for a five-year term.
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