Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration to Remove Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger
A federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can remove special counsel Hampton Dellinger while legal challenges regarding his firing continue.
The Trump administration has argued that the law protecting the special counsel from removal is unconstitutional and unfairly prevents the president from rightfully installing his preferred agency head.
Trump administration can remove head of federal watchdog agency, appeals court rules
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The appeals court further noted that it would expedite its review of the lower-court ruling.
Appeals court allows Trump to fire head of federal watchdog agency
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The ruling is a temporary win for Trump as his administration seeks to carry out mass firings of federal workers, including nearly two dozen government watchdog officials.
Government ethics watchdog removed from post amid legal fight with Trump administration
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In the weeks since Trump first tried to fire Dellinger, the special counsel had opposed the president's efforts to fire probationary employees across several federal agencies.
Appeals court allows Trump administration to remove ethics watchdog Dellinger — for now
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The Trump administration has argued that the law protecting the special counsel from removal is unconstitutional and unfairly prevents the president from rightfully installing his preferred agency head.
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The Trump administration has argued that the law protecting the special counsel from removal is unconstitutional and unfairly prevents the president from rightfully installing his preferred agency head.
Appeals court allows removal of watchdog agency head fired by Trump as legal battle continues
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Dellinger's firing would likewise help dismantle oversight within the federal government.
Appeals court unanimously allows Trump to fire special counsel
Newsweek·4d·Mostly ReliableThis source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.The case has become a flashpoint in the debate over how much power the president should have to replace the leaders of independent agencies as he moves to radically reshape and shrink the federal government.
Appeals court allows removal of watchdog agency head as legal battle rages over Trump firing
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The court’s order is the latest dramatic development in Dellinger’s ongoing fight to keep his job after Trump moved to fire him in early February.
Appeals court allows Trump to remove head of federal watchdog agency for now | Politics
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Summary
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld President Trump's authority to dismiss Hampton Dellinger from the Office of Special Counsel despite a lower court's ruling. Dellinger, who was fighting his termination on grounds that it violated federal law governing special counsel removals, argues that his dismissal undermines whistleblower protections. As the legal battle unfolds, Dellinger may appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Meanwhile, he continues to advocate for reinstating over 5,000 federal employees terminated during the Trump administration's changes. Dellinger’s case is emblematic of the broader debate over presidential power and federal oversight.
Perspectives
The U.S. Court of Appeals allowed the Trump administration to remove Hampton Dellinger from his position as head of the Office of Special Counsel while the legality of his firing is being debated.
The case has heightened discussions about the extent of presidential power in appointing and dismissing leaders of independent agencies within the federal government.
There is concern that allowing the president to fire the special counsel without cause would pose a threat to the protection of whistleblowers and their ability to report misconduct.