A federal judge has rejected the Trump administration’s bid to pause her earlier ruling that restored control of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) to its acting president and board, blocking further attempts by the administration to dismantle the organization and install new leadership.
In a seven-page decision issued on May 23, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the government had failed to meet any of the four legal requirements for a stay, including showing a likelihood of success on appeal and proof of irreparable harm. She described the administration’s legal theory as fundamentally flawed and reaffirmed her earlier conclusion that USIP is not part of the executive branch—and thus beyond the president’s constitutional removal authority.
