Former President Donald Trump is taking his case to the Supreme Court, arguing that he has “unrestricted power” to remove federal officials.
This comes after a lower court blocked his attempt to fire Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, an independent agency that protects government whistleblowers and enforces ethics laws.
In July 2024, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the president has near-total immunity for core presidential actions.
Trump is now using this ruling to claim that he alone has the authority to fire top officials without interference from Congress or the courts.
This case is the first major test of that ruling since Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Who is Hampton Dellinger and What happened?
Appointed by former President Joe Biden, Dellinger led an office designed to safeguard federal employees who report corruption.
Trump’s administration fired Dellinger on February 7, 2025, with a brief email.
On February 12, Judge Amy Berman Jackson reinstated Dellinger, ruling that Trump’s action needed further review.
On February 16, acting Solicitor General Sarah M. Harris appealed the ruling, arguing that the Supreme Court had already confirmed Trump’s authority to remove appointed officials.
In her filing, Harris cited the Supreme Court’s previous decision, stating:
Congress cannot act on, and courts cannot examine, the President’s actions on subjects within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority.
She further argued that blocking Trump’s decision “inflicts the gravest of injuries on the Executive Branch and the separation of powers.”
Critics worry that Trump’s argument could eliminate critical checks on presidential power, allowing the president to fire officials for political reasons rather than job performance.
Supporters argue that the executive branch must have full control over its leadership.
Judge Jackson pushed back in her ruling, stating:
Any disruption to the work of the agency was occasioned by the White House. It’s as if the bull in the china shop looked back over his shoulder and said, ‘What a mess!’
The Supreme Court has not yet decided whether to take up the case, but given the potential impact on executive authority, a ruling could come swiftly.
Harris has requested an immediate stay of the lower court’s order while the Supreme Court considers Trump’s appeal.
This case could shape the balance of power between the presidency, Congress, and the judiciary for years to come.
Clark is a 26-year-old expert working for consumer protection, Clark has dedicated years to identifying and exposing fraudulent schemes. He is working with NGOs to help people who are victims of scams. In his free time, Todd plays football or goes to a bar.
