The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday stayed a lower-court decision that had barred the Trump administration from ousting the U.S. Institute of Peace’s board and reshaping the congressionally chartered body. In a per curiam order, Judges Gregory Katsas, Neomi Rao and Justin Walker said the government is likely to prevail on its argument that the president may remove executive officers at will because the institute exercises “substantial executive power.” The ruling allows the administration to keep in place the board removals and other steps, such as transferring the institute’s $500 million headquarters and financial assets to the General Services Administration, while its appeal moves forward. The appeals court said blocking those actions would cause irreparable harm by limiting the president’s ability to direct foreign-policy instruments that rely on USIP’s grants, fellowships and conflict-resolution programs abroad. U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell had ruled in May that Congress lawfully insulated USIP board members from at-will dismissal and that the president’s March 14 mass firing violated the institute’s charter. The stay does not resolve the underlying dispute but signals the appellate panel’s view that the White House’s position has a strong chance of success.