The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to halt a lower court order reinstating the leader of a whistleblower protection agency over the weekend that President Trump had fired in his attempt to cut the size of the federal government.

According to a filing shared with some press from the Justice Department, the government wants the justices to halt a lower court order reinstating Hampton Dillinger to lead the Office of Special Counsel. Mr. Dillinger had sued after being terminated without cause, arguing he could only be fired for poor performance.

Mr. Dellinger is a Biden appointee, according to NBC News, which also reported that Mr. Trump’s Justice Department asked the high court to keep him off his post while the case works its way through the courts.

In the court filing, the Trump Justice Department tells the Supreme Court that lower courts are attempting to interfere with the executive branch’s authority.

“The United States now seeks this Court’s intervention because these judicial rulings irreparably harm the Presidency by curtailing the President’s ability to manage the Executive Branch in the earliest days of his Administration,” the request, which was signed by acting Solicitor General Sarah M. Harris, read, according to NBC News.

The case is not expected to receive action from the justices until after President’s Day, according to The Associated Press.

It is the first in what is expected to be many requests from the Trump administration to the Supreme Court over district court judges attempting to block the president’s agenda.

• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.