A judge ruled in favor of government watchdog Hampton Dellinger, who was unlawfully fired by former President Donald Trump. Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel, was dismissed via email as part of Trump and Elon Musk’s plan to cut federal jobs and reduce costs.

However, Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled the firing illegal, emphasizing that the Special Counsel protects whistleblowers and investigates unethical government practices. This decision could lead to a Supreme Court battle between Trump and Dellinger.

Meanwhile, Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) sent a February 22 ultimatum requiring federal employees to list five completed tasks or risk termination. Thousands, including FBI agents, ignored it. Musk criticized them and warned of firings for a second non-response.

Legal expert R. Scott Oswald argued the demand was improper, as it bypassed employees’ direct supervisors. Federal workers must follow lawful orders from their superiors, but Musk’s directive came from the Office of Personnel Management, raising legal concerns.

With Trump, Musk, and the courts involved, this dispute could reshape federal employment rules, with lasting political and legal consequences.