Judge Extends Halt on Trump’s Firing of Head of Watchdog Agency For Federal Workers

By Jacob Knutson

The Trump administration recently attempted to fire Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel. (Office of Special Counsel)

A district court judge prolonged a temporary block on the Trump administration’s recent attempt to dismiss without cause the head of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), a key federal whistleblower agency.

Wednesday’s extended pause allows Hampton Dellinger to remain head of OSC — an independent, non-partisan federal agency that combats political corruption and protects government employees and whistleblowers — until March 1.

Washington D.C. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she ordered the brief pause to give herself additional time to write an opinion on Dellinger’s request for a preliminary injunction and the Trump administration’s request to end the lawsuit through a summary judgement.

It’s a win for probationary federal workers included in President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s mass firings across the federal government, as Dellinger’s office in recent days successfully reversed some dismissals at least through early April.

After the extension, the Department of Justice doubled down on its request for the high court to intervene in the case and vacate the district court’s order.

The Trump administration fired Dellinger Feb. 7 through a one-sentence email that stated no reason for his dismissal. “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Special Counsel of the US Office of Special Counsel is terminated, effective immediately,” the email read.

After the attempted dismissal, Dellinger sued, claiming that the administration broke the 1978 law that created his position, which prevents the president from removing the special counsel for reasons other than inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.

Dellinger’s case is significant because it’s the first to arrive at the Supreme Court from Trump’s litigious second term.

SCOTUS Friday punted on the Trump administration’s challenge to Judge Jackson’s temporary restraining order that first halted Dellinger’s dismissal. However, the matter is still before the high court.