The Supreme Court on Tuesday was asked to allow Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel, to remain in his position while his lawsuit challenging President Trump’s attempt to remove him moves through the courts. Dellinger, appointed by President Biden in March 2024 to a five-year term, contends in his lawsuit that federal law protects him from dismissal without cause.
The legal clash began after President Trump sought to fire Dellinger as part of his broader efforts to streamline the federal government. Over the weekend, the Trump administration petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a lower court's ruling that reinstated Dellinger. According to the administration, the reinstatement undermines the president’s authority to manage the executive branch efficiently.
In response, Dellinger’s attorneys argued that the restraining order maintains stability while the case is fully reviewed. They dismissed the administration’s claims, stating in their filing, “There is no merit to the government’s effort to declare a five-alarm fire.”
The Justice Department, however, pushed back. Acting Solicitor General Sarah M. Harris asserted in the administration’s Supreme Court filing that lower courts are improperly limiting executive authority. She stated, “These judicial rulings irreparably harm the Presidency by curtailing the President’s ability to manage the Executive Branch in the earliest days of his Administration.”
This case represents the first of several anticipated legal confrontations between President Trump and federal courts over his policies. The outcome could set a significant precedent regarding executive power and the limits of judicial intervention.
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