The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily halted Donald Trump’s effort to immediately fire Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, following a lower court ruling that blocked the removal.
In a move that marks the first legal showdown of Trump’s new term to reach the nation’s highest court, the justices opted to delay action on the Justice Department’s request to overturn the February 12 restraining order that reinstated Dellinger. The court will revisit the matter on February 26, when the order is set to expire.
The ruling comes amid a sweeping push by the Trump administration to overhaul the federal government, which has already resulted in widespread firings, reassignments, and dismissals of key agency officials. The Office of Special Counsel, an independent agency that safeguards whistleblowers and enforces restrictions on political activities by federal employees, has found itself at the center of the battle over executive power.
Dellinger, appointed by President Biden for a five-year term set to last until 2029, sued after receiving a sudden termination notice from Trump on February 7, citing no cause. His lawsuit argues that the president lacks the authority to fire him without justification, as federal law only permits removal for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.”
The legal fight has ignited debate over the limits of presidential power, with the Justice Department calling the judge’s intervention an “unprecedented assault” on executive authority. Trump’s legal team argues that the president should not be forced to retain an agency head against his will, while the lower court insists that Congress explicitly designed the role to be insulated from political interference.
The case is now set for further review, with the Supreme Court’s decision expected to shape the boundaries of presidential control over independent agencies.
