What is at the heart of the legal dispute between Hampton Dellinger and the Trump administration?

The core issue is that Hampton Dellinger, leader of the Office of Special Counsel, was fired via email without any stated reason, which violates statutory requirements. His position as an independent watchdog requires 'for cause' removal limited to three specific reasons: malfeasance, neglect, or inefficiency. The Trump administration provided none of these justifications when dismissing him, prompting Dellinger to sue. A federal judge ordered his temporary reinstatement during legal proceedings, a rare action that could set precedent for similar disputes involving government positions with statutory protections.