Staff Reports
The Trump administration is once again clashing with the judicial system, this time over a special counsel who seems to be auditioning for a starring role in a political soap opera. Hampton Dellinger, appointed by President Biden, has taken it upon himself to challenge the administration’s right to fire him, all while doing his best impersonation of an executive branch kingmaker. The acting Solicitor General, Sarah M. Harris, has made it clear that keeping Dellinger in office while he litigates his firing is nothing short of a power grab that violates the very essence of presidential authority.
In this unique drama, the administration is trying to rid itself of Dellinger, who is allegedly trying to block any further firings in the executive branch. Harris pointed out the absurdity of the situation, highlighting that a person who has already been fired is wielding executive power from his cushy office—an audacious act that undermines President Trump’s control over his own administration. It’s almost as if Dellinger believes he has been crowned the ruler of the executive branch, defying the President’s wishes while citing the independence of his position.
Dellinger isn’t simply sitting back and letting the firing go gently into that good night; instead, he’s capitalizing on a temporary court order to hold onto his job while taking shots at the administration’s decision to relieve him of his duties. The Office of Special Counsel, which Dellinger oversees, is intended to safeguard government employees from unethical personnel decisions and violations of the Hatch Act. Yet, it seems Dellinger has found a way to skirt those responsibilities while engaging in a power struggle.
Trump DOJ tells Supreme Court that fired special counsel is delaying other firingshttps://t.co/eO4gS5ULgG pic.twitter.com/hfekQRk7a5
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 28, 2025
Compounding this farce is the fact that Dellinger has attempted to delay the termination of six probationary employees—those lower-tier workers that every bureaucrat loves to protect. His argument isn’t just about retaining his own position; it’s also about rescuing other employees, as if he’s the trucker in a movie trying to save the town. Yet, amidst the legal funhouse, it’s hard to overlook that someone who has already been axed is now attempting to thwart the President’s decisions.
Although the courts have generally upheld the notion that a president deserves to have their own people in key roles, Dellinger’s case sits in a gray area as he occupies a position defined by a degree of independence. Trump knows this, and he’s right to call out the apparent hypocrisy of restrictions that protect someone in a role designed to act independently while allowing them to challenge a sitting president’s authority. Whether or not Judge Jackson’s upcoming ruling will provide clarity remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the courtroom drama is only just beginning, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for the executive’s ability to govern effectively.
