U.S. Judge Rules Trump’s Dismissal of Watchdog Head Was Illegal, Setting Stage for Supreme Court Battle
Washington, March 1 (Reuters) — A U.S. judge ruled on Saturday that former President Donald Trump’s decision to fire the head of a federal watchdog agency was illegal. This ruling sets the stage for a possible Supreme Court battle over presidential authority.
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled that Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), could not be dismissed without cause. The OSC plays a crucial role in protecting federal whistleblowers from retaliation.
Jackson criticized Trump’s move, arguing that such dismissals would give him “a constitutional license to bully officials in the executive branch into doing his will.”
The Justice Department quickly appealed the decision, taking the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
Dellinger Responds
Dellinger, appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate for a five-year term, welcomed the ruling.
“I am grateful to see the court confirm the importance and legality of the job protections Congress provided my position,” Dellinger said in an email to Reuters. He added that he would continue working to protect federal employees and whistleblowers from unlawful treatment.
Trump Administration’s Stand
Lawyers for Trump’s administration argued that the ruling weakens the president’s control over executive officials. However, Judge Jackson dismissed these claims, stressing that the Special Counsel’s role is to address unethical and unlawful practices against federal workers.
“It would be ironic, to say the least, and harmful to the law’s purpose if the Special Counsel himself could be removed for partisan reasons,” Jackson wrote in her ruling.
Political and Legal Implications
This ruling could have major consequences for Trump’s efforts to weaken the independence of federal agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued that Dellinger’s presence in office obstructs Trump’s policies, especially after he blocked the firing of six probationary government workers.
The Supreme Court is likely to weigh in, with significant implications for presidential power.
