Special Counsel Ends Lawsuit After Trump Removal, Awaits Court Decision

WASHINGTON — Hampton Dellinger, the former head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, announced Thursday that he is dropping his lawsuit against President Donald Trump following his recent removal from office. Dellinger’s decision came one day after a federal appeals court in Washington D.C. ruled in favor of the Trump administration, effectively ending a legal fight that had the potential to affect presidential power over independent agencies.

In his statement, Dellinger expressed disappointment in the court’s decision, stating that it would place the Office of Special Counsel in the hands of someone who is entirely loyal to the president. He explained that the court’s ruling came at a critical moment, as it would have significant implications for the agency’s independence, stating, “This new ruling means that [the Office of Special Counsel] will be run by someone totally beholden to the President for the months that would pass before I could get a final decision from the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Dellinger’s legal battle served as a focal point in discussions regarding the extent of presidential authority to dismiss leaders of independent offices. The appeals court’s ruling provided Trump with the leeway to fill such roles with individuals aligned with his administration’s objectives. “I think the circuit judges erred badly because their willingness to sign off on my ouster… immediately erases the independence Congress provided for my position,” he noted.

Although appointed by former President Joe Biden, Dellinger had aimed to protect whistleblowers and investigate federal worker complaints since taking office a year ago. He emphasized that his motivation to fight for his position stemmed from the need to maintain the integrity of the Office of Special Counsel, which has historically been regarded as a vital safeguard for federal employees against retaliation.

While the D.C. Circuit‘s ruling temporarily upholds Trump’s decision to remove Dellinger, the case initially posed the first significant challenge to the administration’s attempts to reshape independent agencies. Dellinger had previously indicated that he would pursue the case up to the Supreme Court, despite the judges’ ruling suggesting a long odds of success.

In his concluding remarks, Dellinger proclaimed, “My fight to stay on the job was not for me, but rather for the ideal that OSC should be as Congress intended: an independent watchdog and a safe, trustworthy place for whistleblowers to report wrongdoing and be protected from retaliation.”

As of now, the Office of Special Counsel is expected to be managed by an individual appointed by Trump, whose policies have already seen the dismissal of several government inspectors general earlier this week. This action raises concerns regarding the potential for decreased accountability and oversight in federal operations, particularly in programs that are critical to public welfare.

Dellinger concluded by stating his intentions to continue advocating for justice in other capacities, remarking, “Now I will look to make a difference – as an attorney, a North Carolinian, and an American – in other ways.”