The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday paused the Trump administration's efforts to dismiss the head of an independent agency charged with investigating whistleblower claims as the president seeks to remake the federal government.

The decision allows Hampton Dellinger, a Biden appointee, to remain as head of the Office of Special Counsel at least through Feb. 26. The high court kept that deadline in place and won't take any further action until then.

The Trump administration asked the court to overturn a lower court's temporary reinstatement of Dellinger. A district court hearing is scheduled to consider whether to extend the pause on Dellinger’s firing.

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(AP; Reuters)

Liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson voted to outright deny the administration’s request to OK the firing.

Conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito dissented, saying the lower court overstepped, and they cast doubt on whether courts have the authority to restore to office someone the president has fired. While acknowledging that some officials appointed by the president have contested their removal, Gorsuch wrote in his opinion that "those officials have generally sought remedies like backpay, not injunctive relief like reinstatement."

The dispute over Dellinger is the first legal challenge to reach the Supreme Court after several firings under the Trump administration.

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