A federal judge appointed by Barack Obama has temporarily blocked President Trump from firing Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of the Special Counsel (OSC).
Judge Amy Berman Jackson, known for her past rulings against Trump administration officials, issued a late-night restraining order on Wednesday, keeping Dellinger in his post despite Trump’s decision to remove him last week.
“The effort by the White House to terminate the Special Counsel without identifying any cause plainly contravenes the statute, which states, ‘[t]he Special Counsel may be removed by the President only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office,’” Jackson wrote.
“This language expresses Congress’s clear intent to ensure the independence of the Special Counsel and insulate his work from being buffeted by the winds of political change.”
The ruling effectively undermines Trump’s ability to remove a political appointee whose office has been accused of partisan interference under the previous administration.
A Biden-Appointed Bureaucrat Resists Removal
Dellinger, a Biden nominee, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, claiming he was fired via a “one sentence email” without justification for ending his five-year term early.
His lawsuit argues that his role as head of the OSC should remain independent from presidential authority, despite Trump’s legal power to remove executive branch officials.
The OSC, distinct from the similarly named position within the Justice Department, oversees whistleblower protections and investigates alleged violations of the Hatch Act—a law meant to prevent federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.
However, many conservatives view the OSC under Biden-era leadership as another arm of the deep state, selectively targeting Trump allies while ignoring Democrat abuses.
The temporary restraining order marks yet another instance of an activist judiciary stepping in to block Trump’s efforts to restore accountability within the federal government.
Judge Jackson, a longtime critic of Trump, previously ruled against his administration in cases involving Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, and other Trump allies.
Jackson’s decision allows Dellinger to remain in office as the courts determine whether he can be permanently removed.
Trump’s efforts to remove entrenched Biden-era officials like Dellinger are part of his broader commitment to dismantling the administrative state that has worked against him since his first term.
While liberal judges continue to protect their bureaucratic allies, Trump remains focused on restoring accountability and ensuring that federal agencies serve the American people—not the political interests of the left.
