The Supreme Court should reject an emergency appeal from the Trump administration asking for quick action to allow the firing of the head of the federal agency that protects whistleblowers, lawyers for the embattled official told the justices on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump wants the justices to allow him to remove the head of the Office of Special Counsel, which investigates whistleblower reports.

The Justice Department asked the justices to stem lower-court rulings blocking the president's early policy and personnel moves.