Sun Mar 02 02:44:26 UTC 2025: ## Judge Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Remove Federal Watchdog Head
**Washington, D.C. –** A U.S. District Judge has ruled against President Donald Trump’s attempt to remove Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), a federal agency protecting whistleblowers and enforcing the Hatch Act. Judge Amy Berman Jackson sided with Dellinger, stating that Trump’s dismissal was unlawful, as the law permits removal only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.
Dellinger, appointed by President Joe Biden, sued Trump after his firing last month. The Justice Department argued that the removal protections for the special counsel are unconstitutional and impede the President’s ability to appoint preferred agency heads. However, Dellinger’s lawyers countered that the OSC’s independence is crucial to its function, protecting federal employees from retaliation for whistleblowing.
This decision follows a February ruling by a federal board halting the termination of several probationary workers, also potentially unlawful firings linked to the Trump administration’s government overhaul. The case has already reached the Supreme Court once, which temporarily reinstated Dellinger. The Justice Department has described the lower court’s decision as crossing a “constitutional red line.”
The OSC is responsible for investigating whistleblower claims and enforcing the Hatch Act, which limits the political activities of government employees. Dellinger’s firing occurred amidst reports of Trump administration employees openly supporting the President’s policies on social media, potentially violating the Hatch Act. The legal battle is expected to continue, with a likely appeal to the Supreme Court.
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