Judge Temporarily Reinstates Fired Whistleblower Agency Head Dellinger

A U.S. judge has temporarily reinstated Hampton Dellinger as head of the Office of Special Counsel after he filed a lawsuit claiming his removal by the Trump administration was unlawful. Dellinger, appointed by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate, alleged his firing violated federal law that permits removal only for misconduct or neglect of duty. Judge Amy Berman Jackson's ruling allows him to continue in his role while the court considers a more permanent reinstatement. This incident follows recent actions by Trump, who also removed the top U.S. ethics official and previously dismissed 17 inspectors general, raising concerns about the administration's treatment of officials overseeing government ethics. Dellinger's case highlights ongoing tensions regarding employment protections in federal agencies. The White House has not yet commented on the situation.