Mar 5, 2025 - Business

Trump can remove head of federal watchdog for now, appeals court rules

Rebecca Falconer

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump was expected to address Congress on his early achievements of his presidency and his upcoming legislative agenda. — President Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

An appeals court on Wednesday allowed President Trump's removal of the head of an independent watchdog agency that investigates federal workers' whistleblower reports while a legal challenge to the firing plays out.

The big picture: The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals paused a lower court ruling that Hampton Dellinger should continue in his role leading the Office of Special Counsel after agreeing with him that his firing was "unlawful."

Zoom in: The unanimous three-judge federal appeals panel said in its brief order it would issue an opinion "in due course" and expedited its review of U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson's Saturday ruling in favor of Dellinger's lawsuit.

"This order gives effect to the removal of appellee from his position as Special Counsel of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel," the appeals court said.
"Appellants have satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay pending appeal."

Go deeper: Supreme Court delays Trump's firing of agency head

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Trump can remove head of federal watchdog for now, appeals court rules

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