Trump administration files first supreme court appeal over firing of government watchdog

Attempt to remove head of the office of special counsel is key test of executive branch's battle with US judiciary to reshape federal government

Donald Trump's administration has asked the supreme court to approve the firing of the head of a federal agency dedicated to protecting whistleblowers in the first appeal of Trump's new term and a key test of his battle with the judicial branch.

Hampton Dellinger, the head of the office of the special counsel (OSC), is among the fired government watchdogs who have sued the Trump administration, arguing that their dismissals were illegal and that they should be reinstated.