The federal judge’s decision blocks Trump from removing Hampton Dellinger as head of the Office of Special Counsel and sets up a likely Supreme Court battle over the president’s powers.

A federal judge said that the president’s efforts to remove Hampton Dellinger, who leads the Office of Special Counsel, were unlawful. The agency protects whistle-blowers.

The Supreme Court placed the emergency application in "abeyance," until the temporary reinstallment of Hampton Dellinger as the leader of the Office of Special Counsel expires next Wednesday.