Federal judge rules Trump’s firing of watchdog chief unlawful

A federal judge ruled Saturday that President Donald Trump’s dismissal of Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel, was “unlawful,” potentially creating a significant legal challenge to the administration’s efforts to reshape the federal workforce.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson determined that limits on the president’s power to fire the head of this independent watchdog agency are constitutional, rejecting the White House’s arguments to the contrary.

“The elimination of the restrictions… would be fatal to the defining and essential feature of the Office of Special Counsel as it was conceived by Congress and signed into law by the President: its independence,” Jackson wrote in her ruling.

The Office of Special Counsel, which investigates whistleblower complaints and protects federal workers’ rights, could become a crucial counterweight to the administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce.

Agency role in challenging Trump administration

The agency may play a significant role in challenging the campaign led by Elon Musk, whom Trump has tasked with downsizing parts of the government.

Jackson had previously ordered Dellinger temporarily reinstated while considering the case. In her Saturday ruling, she noted that the White House’s “curt email” terminating Dellinger “contained no reasons whatsoever,” despite legal requirements specifying limited grounds for dismissal.

The case appears headed for the Supreme Court, where the conservative majority includes three justices nominated by Trump. The high court previously declined to block Jackson’s temporary reinstatement order, preferring to wait for her final ruling.

Legal experts suggest this case represents one of several testing the boundaries of presidential power as numerous challenges to Trump’s executive actions continue moving through the courts.

The outcome could have far-reaching implications for the administration’s ability to unilaterally restructure federal agencies.