Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Firing of Whistleblower Agency Head

The Court deferred a decision on whether President Trump can remove Hampton Dellinger, allowing him to stay on as head of the Office of Special Counsel until February 26.

The Supreme Court issued an unsigned order holding the case until February 26, when a lower court hearing will determine whether to extend the temporary restraining order reinstating Dellinger.
Hampton Dellinger, appointed by President Biden to a five-year term, was fired via email by the Trump administration on February 7 without cause, prompting legal challenges.
The case raises significant constitutional questions about presidential authority to remove independent agency heads and could impact federal workforce protections.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson opposed the administration's request, while Justices Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito dissented, arguing for immediate action to dissolve the restraining order.
This is the first major legal challenge involving President Trump’s second-term executive actions to reach the Supreme Court, with broader implications for the balance of power between the executive branch and independent agencies.