Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) takes control of the US Institute of Peace despite legal challenges. The federal judge’s ruling allows for increased administration influence over an organization established to operate independently.
At a glance:
• A federal judge denied requests to block the Trump administration’s takeover of the US Institute of Peace
• USIP board members filed a lawsuit claiming they were unlawfully fired by the administration
• DOGE staff accessed the USIP headquarters with police assistance after initial resistance
• The organization was established by Congress in 1984 to study peaceful conflict resolution
• The case highlights tension between presidential authority and congressionally-created institutions
Trump Administration Asserts Control Over Peace Institute
The Trump administration has successfully taken control of the US Institute of Peace (USIP) after a federal judge denied requests to block the takeover. The legal ruling is a significant victory for President Trump’s efforts to streamline government operations through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
USIP Board members, including former US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan, filed a lawsuit against the administration after being fired by email. The lawsuit claimed the White House had no authority over the institute, which was established by Congress as a non-profit organization.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly defended the administration’s actions with a firm statement supporting presidential authority. “Rogue bureaucrats will not be allowed to hold agencies hostage. The Trump administration will enforce the President’s executive authority and ensure his agencies remain accountable to the American people.”
Standoff Leads to Police Intervention
The situation escalated when institute staff initially refused entry to DOGE representatives, even calling police to prevent them from accessing the headquarters. This resistance proved futile as law enforcement ultimately assisted DOGE staff in gaining entry to the building.
According to police reports, “Eventually, all the unauthorized individuals inside of the building complied with the acting USIP President’s request and left the building without further incident.” The former President of the institute, George Moose, was replaced with Kenneth Jackson from the US Agency for International Development.
Moose had previously defended the institute’s independence, stating: “It was built as a symbol of the aspiration of the American people to be peace builders in the world.” He described the institution, stating: “We are a private, nonprofit corporation in the District of Columbia and therefore not a federal agency, and therefore, the federal government has no entitlement to come in and take over our building.”
Broader Implications for Federal Agencies
The legal action against USIP is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce federal government size and control entities created by Congress. An Executive Order from President Trump targeted the institute and three other agencies for large-scale reductions.
Democrats in Congress, including New York Representative Gregory Meeks and New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, criticized the move as an attempt “to recklessly dismantle historic US institutions piece by piece.” The ruling sets a potential precedent regarding the extent of presidential authority over other congressionally-created organizations with similar structures.
