US President Donald Trump is trying to reduce the size of the federal government by challenging the authority of certain independent agencies.
He has filed an urgent request with the US Supreme Court to decide whether he has the power to fire the head of an independent agency that protects whistleblowers.
According to BBC, Hampton Dellinger, who led the US Office of Special Counsel, took legal action against the Trump administration after being fired via email.
Hampton, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, claims that his firing was illegal because a law protects the heads of independent agencies from being removed by the president, unless they are found negligent, corrupt, or inefficient.
Not only that, but Trump also removed several government watchdogs and cut thousands of federal jobs.
A federal judge in Washington, DC temporarily allowed Hampton to keep his job while the case is under review.
Meanwhile, the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC disagreed with the Trump administration’s request to overturn the lower court’s decision.
In response, the Justice Department urgently appealed to the Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority.
Acting Solicitor General Sarah M. Harris wrote in a filing provided to The Washington Post by the Department of Justice:
“This court should not allow lower courts to seize executive power by dictating to the president how long he must continue employing an agency head against his will.”
The statement added:
“Until now, as far as we are aware, no court in American history has wielded an injunction to force the president to retain an agency head.”
This is the first case Trump has taken to the Supreme Court since becoming president last month.
