Judge rules head of watchdog agency must keep his job, says Trump’s bid to oust him was unlawful

Federal judge rules Trump's attempt to remove special counsel unlawful, reinstating him in role protecting whistleblowers.

The head of a federal watchdog agency must remain in his job, a judge in Washington ruled on Saturday (March 1, 2025), saying U.S. President Donald Trump's bid to remove the special counsel was unlawful.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sided with Hampton Dellinger, who leads the Office of Special Counsel, in a legal battle over the President’s authority to oust the head of the independent agency that’s likely headed back to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Dellinger sued Mr. Trump last month after he was fired even though the law says special counsels can be removed by the President “only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.”

Jackson, who was nominated to the bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, quickly reinstated Mr. Dellinger in the job while he pursued his case.

The ruling comes as Mr. Dellinger is challenging the removal of probationary workers who were fired as part of the Trump administration’s massive overhaul of the government. A federal board on Tuesday (February 25, 2025) halted the terminations of several probationary workers after Mr. Dellinger said their firings may have been unlawful.

The Justice Department says removal protections for the special counsel are unconstitutional and prevent the President from rightfully installing his preferred agency head.

Mr. Dellinger’s lawyers say the special counsel is meant to be insulated from presidential interference because of the office’s unique responsibilities to protect whistleblowers.