In a bold legal move, President Donald Trump is heading to the Supreme Court to challenge the limits of his authority to fire federal officials. The case centers around Hampton Dellinger, the head of the US Office of Special Counsel, who was dismissed via a brief email earlier this month. Dellinger, a Biden appointee, claims his firing violated a law meant to protect independent agency leaders from dismissal unless there's proof of neglect, malfeasance, or inefficiency. Following his termination, a federal judge in Washington issued a temporary order allowing Dellinger to stay in his job while his case is pending.
As Trump pushes for a smaller federal government, he has dismissed numerous inspectors general and thousands of federal employees. Recent reports indicate that approximately 9,500 workers from agencies like Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs have been let go, while around 75,000 accepted voluntary buyouts. The Justice Department filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, urging the justices not to let lower courts dictate presidential power over appointments. This marks the first significant court case Trump has brought to the Supreme Court since taking office, amidst ongoing tensions over his administration's policies.
