Dellinger Exit Deepens OSC Politicization as Workers Lose Ally

The credibility of an independent US whistleblower agency protecting federal workers who report fraud and misconduct is in question following President Donald Trump‘s unusual dismissal of its leader, who later dropped his termination challenge.

Then-Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger suffered a significant setback last week when a federal appellate court granted the Trump administration’s bid to pause a district judge’s ruling that his dismissal was unlawful. Dellinger, who had remained as head of the Office of Special Counsel by the district’s order, decided to drop his litigation.

Dellinger’s unprecedented Feb. 7 termination without explanation was part of the president’s broader ...