DOGE’s U.S. Institute of Peace Takeover “Unlawful” Judge Rules

A federal judge says the Trump Administration takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) was “unlawful” and is now “null and void.”

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell also invalidated that removal of USIP board members and its president and nullified the transfer of USIP’s headquarters to the General Services Administration (GSA). 

The ruling from Judge Howell comes two months after a showdown at the agency’s Washington headquarters, when members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) took over the building with the help of law enforcement, and subsequently laid off most institute employees. The DOGE takeover prompted the acting head of the Institute of Peace George Moose to say that “DOGE has broken into our building.”

USIP, Acting President Moose, and other board members filed a lawsuit after they were fired.

In her ruling, Judge Howell said that the Trump administration did not have authority to unilaterally dismantle the institute, which was established by Congress in 1984 as an independent organization and seeks to promote peace around the world. 

The judge also said the administration used “brute force” to take over the building, and that DOGE officials lacked legal authority to fire the staff and transfer the property to GSA.

Return to USIP

USIP Acting President Moose reentered the building shortly after Judge Howell’s ruling, escorted by private security and USIP’s outside attorney. 

“We just did a quick walk-through — externally, visibly, things look to be in pretty good shape,” said Acting President Moose. “I didn’t see anything, any destruction, if you will, no damage that I can see that is visible.”

USIP expects to bring back all staff who would like to return. 

The Trump Administration appealed the ruling and requested a stay. 

“President Trump is right to reduce failed, useless entities like USIP to their statutory minimum, and the rogue judge’s attempt to impede on the separation of powers will not be the last say on the matter,” said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly. 

Two other institutions that were also mentioned in President Trump’s executive order terminating USIP, the Inter-American Foundation and the U.S. African Development Foundation, have also sued to be reinstated.