Trump’s Attempt to Oust Watchdog Agency Leader Declared Unlawful: Judge Orders Him to Stay in Position

On Saturday, a D.C. judge ruled that the head of the Office of Special Counsel, Hampton Dellinger, must keep his job. This decision came after President Trump attempted to remove him, which the court found to be unlawful.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson supported Dellinger in his legal fight against the president. Dellinger had sued after being fired, claiming that special counsels can only be removed for specific reasons, like misconduct or inefficiency. Judge Jackson, appointed by former President Obama, quickly reinstated him while the case is being resolved.

Judge Jackson dismissed the administration’s argument that the rules protecting special counsels are unconstitutional. She stated that allowing unrestricted removal would negatively impact the special counsel’s vital role, which includes protecting federal employees from illegal actions and retaliation, especially whistleblowers.

In her ruling, Jackson emphasized that the Special Counsel must remain independent of political pressures. She believes this independence is essential to discourage any form of retaliation against government employees who report wrongdoing.

“If I can be fired without a valid reason, federal employees won’t feel safe coming to me,” Dellinger said outside the courthouse, highlighting the importance of his position.

The Justice Department plans to appeal this ruling in a higher court. There’s a strong chance that this case could end up in the Supreme Court again, as it has already been there once, where they allowed Dellinger to stay in his role temporarily.

The ruling also connects to a larger issue: the dismissal of probationary workers under the Trump administration. A federal board recently halted some of these firings, agreeing with Dellinger that they may not have been lawful.

Dellinger expressed his gratitude for the court’s decision, asserting that he will continue to protect the rights of federal employees and whistleblowers. His office also enforces the Hatch Act, which limits political activity among government workers—a crucial responsibility, especially given recent concerns about political advocacy by some Trump administration employees.

Moving forward, Dellinger’s situation highlights the ongoing challenges around federal oversight and the importance of protecting those who expose misconduct within the government.