Washington, February 22 – The US Supreme Court on Friday temporarily blocked Donald Trump’s request to dismiss the head of a whistleblower protection agency, marking the first major judicial intervention in his executive actions since his return to the White House.
The court’s decision stated that the matter would remain on hold until February 26, when a lower court’s temporary restraining order preventing the removal of Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), is set to expire.
“The application to vacate the order… is held in abeyance until February 26, when the TRO is set to expire,” the unsigned ruling stated.
Trump’s First Supreme Court Challenge Since Returning to Office
The Trump administration had sought Supreme Court approval to fire Dellinger, who was dismissed by the White House on February 7. However, Dellinger sued the administration, leading a district court to order his reinstatement. The US Court of Appeals subsequently refused to overturn that ruling.
In an emergency appeal filed on Sunday, the administration called the lower court’s decision an “unprecedented assault on the separation of powers that warrants immediate relief.”
A Looming Constitutional Crisis?
The Supreme Court, which includes three justices appointed by Trump, is now positioned to play a key role in what some legal experts see as an emerging constitutional crisis. Trump, who began his second term last month, has been pushing for sweeping changes to the federal government, with billionaire donor Elon Musk leading efforts to downsize or dismantle key agencies.
The Supreme Court’s final ruling on the Office of Special Counsel dispute could set a critical precedent for Trump’s ability to restructure executive branch agencies, fueling ongoing debates over the limits of presidential power.
