President Trump’s administration is pushing the Supreme Court to rule that presidents have unlimited power to remove leaders of independent agencies, a move that could reshape the federal government and limit congressional oversight.
The case centers around Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, an agency responsible for safeguarding government whistleblowers and enforcing ethics laws. The administration wants to fire Mr. Dellinger, citing no reason for termination, despite his five-year term, which was confirmed by the Senate.
A federal trial judge temporarily reinstated Mr. Dellinger’s position after a lower court ruling, but the administration has appealed, arguing that Congress cannot limit the president’s power to fire agency heads. The case challenges a 1935 precedent, Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, which holds that Congress can shield independent agencies from politics.
The Supreme Court is expected to review the case in the coming days, and conservative justices have suggested they may overrule the precedent, arguing it infringes on the president’s power. The decision could have significant implications for government operations and limit congressional oversight of independent agencies.
The position of special counsel leads are critical as Trump seeks to reshape the federal government through summary terminations, a move that has sparked concerns about accountability and transparency.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/us/trump-supreme-court-special-counsel.html