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, setting the stage for a Supreme Court showdown 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 arbitrarily dismissed. The OSC plays a crucial role in protecting federal whistleblowers from retaliation.
Jackson criticized Trump’s move, stating that allowing such dismissals would give him “a constitutional license to bully officials in the executive branch into doing his will.”
The Justice Department swiftly appealed the decision, elevating the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
Dellinger Responds
Dellinger, who was 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 vowed to continue his efforts to protect federal employees and whistleblowers from unlawful treatment.
Trump Administration’s Stand
Lawyers representing Trump’s administration argued that the ruling undermines the president’s authority over executive officials. However, Judge Jackson dismissed these claims, emphasizing that the Special Counsel’s role is to review unethical and unlawful practices against federal workers.
“It would be ironic, to say the least, and inimical to the law’s purpose if the Special Counsel himself could be removed out of partisan interests,” Jackson wrote in her ruling.
Political and Legal Implications
The ruling could have far-reaching consequences for Trump’s efforts to curb the independence of federal agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued that Dellinger’s continued presence in office hinders the Trump administration’s policies, especially after he recently blocked the firing of six probationary government workers.
The Supreme Court is expected to weigh in, with potential implications for the limits of presidential power.
