In a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape federal agencies, members of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) entered the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) headquarters in Washington D.C. this week, despite protests from the organization that it operates as an independent, congressionally-established nonprofit outside executive branch control.
The confrontation marks the latest chapter in President Trump’s broader initiative to streamline government operations and reduce federal spending, particularly targeting agencies involved in foreign assistance work.
DOGE Takes Control After Board Restructuring
The dramatic events unfolded after the Trump administration removed most of USIP’s board members and fired its President and CEO, George Moose. According to documents obtained by multiple news outlets, the three remaining board members—Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Defense University President Peter Garvin—voted to dismiss Moose on Friday, March 14.
By Monday, DOGE personnel had arrived at USIP headquarters, located across from the State Department in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, to install Kenneth Jackson as the organization’s acting president. Initial attempts to enter the building were rebuffed, leading to a standoff that eventually required police intervention.
“DOGE has broken into our building,” Moose told reporters outside the institute. “What has happened here today is an illegal takeover by elements of the executive branch of a private nonprofit.”
Dispute Over Legal Authority
At the heart of the controversy is a fundamental disagreement about USIP’s status and the administration’s authority over it.
USIP maintains it was established by Congress in 1984 as an “independent nonprofit corporation” that does not meet U.S. Code definitions of a “government corporation,” “government-controlled corporation,” or “independent establishment.” This status, USIP argues, places it outside the president’s direct control.
The Trump administration, however, included USIP in a February 19 executive order targeting various organizations for budget cuts and restructuring. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly defended the administration’s actions, citing USIP’s “noncompliance” with the president’s order.
“Eleven board members were lawfully removed, and remaining board members appointed Kenneth Jackson acting president,” Kelly stated. “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.”
Police Intervention and Building Access
The situation escalated Monday when DOGE staff, after being turned away on Friday, returned to gain access to the building. USIP employees called the Metropolitan Police Department, reporting what they considered an unauthorized entry.
According to USIP’s chief of security, Colin O’Brien, police ultimately helped DOGE members enter the building. He also confirmed that the private security team for the organization had its contract canceled, further solidifying the administration’s control.
Late Monday evening, DOGE posted a statement on social media platform X defending its actions: “Mr. Moose denied lawful access to Kenneth Jackson, the Acting USIP President (as approved by the USIP Board). @DCPoliceDept arrived onsite and escorted Mr. Jackson into the building. The only unlawful individual was Mr. Moose, who refused to comply, and even tried to fire USIP’s private security team when said security team went to give access to Mr. Jackson.”
Part of a Broader Efficiency Initiative
The USIP takeover represents just one component of the administration’s wider effort to reduce the size and scope of federal agencies. The February executive order also targeted the U.S. African Development Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation, and the Presidio Trust.
These actions follow the administration’s controversial dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and significant cuts to other departments, including the Department of Education.
Conservative supporters of these measures argue they represent necessary steps to reduce government waste and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently. Critics, however, contend that these agencies perform vital functions that advance American interests abroad through non-military means.
USIP’s Mission and Future
USIP describes itself as a nonpartisan organization “dedicated to protecting U.S. interests by helping to prevent violent conflicts and broker peace deals abroad.” It operates with congressional funding but maintains an independent governance structure.
Moose, speaking to reporters after being escorted from the building, expressed concern about the administration’s approach to foreign assistance programs but suggested USIP’s mission should align with the president’s stated goals.
“I can’t imagine how our work could align more perfectly with the goals that he has outlined: keeping us out of foreign wars, resolving conflicts before they drag us into those kinds of conflicts,” Moose said.
He also reflected on the symbolic importance of the USIP headquarters: “This building really was — it was built not just as a platform for the work that we do. It was built as a symbol of the aspiration of the American people to be peace builders in the world. That’s why it is as beautiful as it is.”
Legal Challenges Ahead
USIP’s leadership has vowed to challenge the administration’s actions in court. George Foote, a lawyer for USIP, told NPR that the building was “seized by force, by police officers with guns acting under the authority of a resolution that we are going to get a court to declare invalid.”
Similar legal challenges have already been mounted by other organizations targeted in the February executive order. The president of the Inter-American Foundation sued on Monday to block her firing, while the U.S. African Development Foundation previously went to court but was unsuccessful in preventing DOGE staff from entering its offices.
A federal judge ruled last week that removing most grants and staff from the African Development Foundation would be legal, potentially setting a precedent for the USIP case.
Efficiency vs. Independence
The confrontation at USIP highlights the tension between the administration’s drive for government efficiency and questions about executive authority over independent organizations established by Congress.
For supporters of the administration’s approach, these actions represent a necessary correction to bloated government structures that operate with limited accountability. The DOGE initiative, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, has been tasked with identifying and eliminating wasteful spending across the federal government.
Critics, however, argue that independent institutions like USIP serve important functions that complement traditional diplomatic and military approaches to international relations. They contend that dismantling these organizations could ultimately harm American interests abroad.
A Sign on the Door
By Tuesday morning, a sign had been taped to the front door of USIP headquarters. In all-capital, red letters, it read “PRIVATE PROPERTY” and “NO TRESPASSING,” a visible symbol of the ongoing dispute over the building’s status and control.
Employees were instructed to work from home until further notice as the situation continues to develop.
Future Amid Drive for Efficiency
As the legal battle over USIP’s status unfolds, the incident underscores the Trump administration’s determination to reshape federal agencies according to its efficiency priorities. The confrontation at USIP headquarters represents more than a dispute over a single organization—it reflects fundamental questions about executive power, congressional intent, and the proper structure of America’s engagement with the world.
Whether USIP will maintain its traditional mission or be significantly restructured under new leadership remains to be seen. What is clear is that the administration’s efficiency drive continues to transform Washington’s institutional landscape, with potentially far-reaching implications for U.S. foreign policy and international engagement.
For now, the Department of Government Efficiency has established its presence at the Institute of Peace—an irony not lost on observers of this unfolding story.