Hampton Dellinger is an American attorney who served as the Special Counsel of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) from March 2024 until his dismissal in February 2025.
Appointed by President Joe Biden, Dellinger led the OSC, an independent agency responsible for protecting federal employees and enforcing the Hatch Act, which limits political activities of federal workers.
Prior to his role at the OSC, Dellinger served as the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy in the Department of Justice from November 2021 to June 2023. He has also held positions at law firms such as Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP and Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson. In 2008, he ran for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of North Carolina but was defeated in the primary.
On February 7, 2025, President Donald Trump dismissed Dellinger from his position as Special Counsel without providing a reason. Dellinger challenged his removal, leading to a legal battle that included temporary reinstatement orders. Ultimately, on March 5, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit lifted the injunctions, allowing Dellinger’s dismissal to stand. Dellinger accepted the court’s decision, ending his legal fight.
Dellinger’s tenure and subsequent removal have sparked discussions about the independence of regulatory agencies and presidential authority over such positions. Critics argue that undermining the OSC’s independence could lead to increased government inefficiency and misconduct.