Late Friday, President Trump dismissed the head of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), an agency responsible for protecting government whistleblowers, a decision revealed in a lawsuit filed by the agency’s leader on Monday.
Hampton Dellinger, who was appointed by former President Biden, claimed he was dismissed via a brief, one-sentence email, which he argues violates his appointment to a five-year term. Dellinger’s firing raises concerns about the protection of whistleblowers, as the OSC plays a critical role in providing a safe channel for government employees to report misconduct without fear of retaliation. It also oversees violations of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political campaigning.
Dellinger’s legal team contends that his firing breaches laws that stipulate he can only be removed for cause, and they argue that the action undermines the agency’s mission—especially given the increasing number of recent firings under the current administration.
The lawsuit points out that the surge in terminations of civil service employees under the new administration has raised questions about their legality and whether retaliation against whistleblowers is a factor. The OSC, the suit stresses, is specifically tasked with investigating such claims and taking appropriate action.
Dellinger’s lawsuit seeks a temporary order to block his removal, asserting that this unlawful action directly harms the agency’s ability to fulfill its duties. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who was appointed by former President Obama.
