Trump Admin Asks US Top Court to Fire Agency Head

President Donald Trump's administration has asked the US Supreme Court to intervene in its bid to fire the head of an independent US agency that protects government whistleblowers, bringing its first legal battle involving Trump's actions to the nation's highest judicial body since he took office in January.

- Agencies

WASHINGTON:

The Justice Department asked the court to immediately lift a federal judge's February 12 order that temporarily blocked Trump's removal of Hampton Dellinger as the head of the Office of Special Counsel while litigation continues in the dispute, according to a copy of the filing reviewed by Reuters. The case has not yet been docketed by the court.

The case could offer a preview of how the Supreme Court will view Trump's aggressive moves to remake the federal government, including by removing heads of independent agencies.