Judge Rules Trump’s Firing of Federal Watchdog Chief Was Illegal, Citing Risks of Political Intimidation

A U.S. judge has ruled that former President Donald Trump’s decision to fire the head of a federal watchdog agency was unlawful, arguing that such actions could set a precedent for pressuring officials into political compliance.

Judge Amy Berman Jackson, presiding in Washington, determined that allowing Trump to remove Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, would effectively grant the president “a constitutional license to bully officials in the executive branch into doing his will.” The ruling marks an early test of presidential power that may ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Justice Department has already filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, challenging Jackson’s ruling.

Dellinger, who was appointed by President Joe Biden to a five-year term, welcomed the court’s decision, emphasizing that his role is to safeguard federal employees and whistleblowers from unlawful treatment.

The Trump administration has argued that preventing the president from dismissing Dellinger encroaches on executive authority. However, Jackson rejected the claim that the statute protecting the special counsel is unconstitutional, stressing that the role exists to investigate misconduct affecting federal employees.

The case comes amid broader legal debates over Trump’s efforts to curb the independence of agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Jackson clarified that her ruling was “extremely narrow” and did not diminish Trump’s presidential powers but was specific to this unique agency.

The acting solicitor general, Sarah Harris, previously argued that Dellinger’s continued role was obstructing the administration, citing his intervention earlier in the week to prevent the firing of six probationary government employees.