Appeals Court Permits Trump Administration to Remove Federal Ethics Watchdog

The court's decision allows the removal of Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel, as legal challenges over his firing continue.

The DC Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order allowing the Trump administration to remove Hampton Dellinger from his role as Special Counsel of the Office of Special Counsel.
Dellinger had previously been reinstated by a federal district judge, who ruled that his firing violated a law limiting presidential authority to remove special counsels.
The appeals court's decision temporarily overturns the lower court ruling while the case is expedited for further review.
Dellinger, whose office protects federal whistleblowers, is expected to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court on an emergency basis.
The legal battle centers on whether Dellinger’s removal adhered to federal laws requiring cause such as inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.