"I am glad to be able to continue my work as an independent government watchdog and whistleblower advocate," Dellinger said in a statement after the ruling. "I am grateful to the judges and justices who have concluded that I should be allowed to remain on the job while the courts decide whether my office can retain a measure of independence from direct partisan and political control."

Simmering below the surface of the case are more fundamental questions about Trump's power to fire potential critics who enjoy for-cause removal protections in federal law. For now, those questions will remain unanswered. But they will almost certainly wind their way back to the court in the coming weeks."