Top whistleblower advocate sues President Trump, alleging ‘unlawful’ firing
The leader of an independent federal ethics agency has filed a lawsuit claiming he was illegally fired by President Trump, the latest attempted removal of a political appointee that may violate the law.
The Office of Special Counsel investigates and prosecutes violations of “prohibited personnel practices” like whistleblower retaliation, enforces ethics laws like the Hatch Act, and protects employment rights of military veterans.
The office’s leader, Hampton Dellinger, filed a lawsuit Monday in Washington, D.C., federal court after receiving a termination email Friday night.
“That email made no attempt to comply with the Special Counsel’s for-cause removal protection,” Dellinger’s suit reads. “It stated simply: ‘On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Special Counsel of the US Office of Special Counsel is terminated, effective immediately.’ “
Federal law says the special counsel may be removed by the president “only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.”
Dellinger was nominated to serve a five-year term by former President Joe Biden in 2023 and confirmed by the Senate in 2024.
Neither the White House nor the Department of Justice has responded to requests for comment. The lawsuit was first reported by Politico.
Many politically appointed positions within the federal government see turnover when a new administration takes over, but Trump’s return to office has been marked by a wave of controversial removals that appear to flout federal regulations as part of a larger project of remaking — and sometimes breaking — the government.
That includes a Democratic member of the Federal Election Commission, who said last week Trump purported to remove her; Trump’s announcement suggesting he would name himself chair of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and remove other board members; and a suit from an ousted National Labor Relations Board member who said Trump’s firing broke the law.
Auburn tabs USF’s Alex Golesh as its next coach, replacing Hugh Freeze on the Plains
The 41-year-old Golesh, who was born in Russia and moved to the United State at age 7, is signing a six-year contract that averages more than $7 million annually to replace Hugh Freeze. Freeze was fired in early November after failing to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three seasons on the Plains.
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Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announces run for Alabama governor
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The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.
