A federal appeals court cleared the way for President Donald Trump to at least temporarily fire the head of an independent US whistleblower agency, pausing a decision by a judge who determined the dismissal was illegal.

A federal judge ruled that the head of an independent US agency that protects government whistleblowers was unlawfully fired last month by President Donald Trump, even as the White House aims to get the case on a fast-track to the Supreme Court.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia sided with the Trump administration in allowing the immediate removal of Hampton Dellinger as head of the Office of Special Counsel while the court battle continues. Dellinger is likely to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.