Doge Secures Entry into US Institute of Peace Following Trump Administration's Board Overhaul
Hijinks at the US Institute of Peace
In an unprecedented turn of events, officials from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) managed to gain access to the US Institute of Peace (USIP) this week, following a rather contentious standoff last week.
This dramatic escalation, prompted by the Trump administration's decision to restructure the organization's board recently, seems to have paved the way for another legal battle brewing between the administration and an independent entity.
Before the week's events, acting USIP president George Moose, who was reportedly fired from his role by the Trump administration, made a statement Monday expressing his dismay. He said, "DOGE has invaded our building."
The administration shook up USIP's board last Friday, leaving most of the board members out in the cold, and appointing Kenneth Jackson as the new acting USIP president. Jackson, it seems, was one of the DOGE personnel who entered the building on Monday, according to USIP's chief security officer.
USIP maintains that this appointment isn't legal. The Institute, which aims to resolve conflicts, is not a federal agency. It was created by Congress as a nonpartisan, independent body back in 1984, and USIP owns and manages its headquarters.
Following the entry of the former security contractors, whose contracts were suspended on Sunday, USIP contacted the DC Metropolitan Police. According to USIP's chief security officer, Colin O'Brien, when he went to greet the police, he found that they had allowed the DOGE personnel, most of whom wouldn't identify themselves, to enter the building, accompanied by 10 to 12 uniformed DC police officers.
These DOGE personnel demanded that O'Brien, USIP's general counsel, as well as members of the operations staff leave the building. Further, additional police officers arrived later in the day, equipped with lock-picking devices, and were seen entering a side door of the building.
DOGE, in a post on X, alleged that Moose had denied lawful access to Jackson, the Acting USIP President (as approved by the USIP Board). DOGE claimed that DC police "arrived onsite and escorted Mr. Jackson into the building."
In a statement made by phone from his locked office while DOGE was exploring the premises, Moose expressed his expectation of DOGE's return to try gaining access to USIP over the weekend. He also mentioned that representatives from the FBI and the US Attorney's Office of the District of Columbia had been trying to intimidate their way into the building.
Moose fears that the FBI convinced the DC police into believing that the building was owned by the US government, disregarding USIP's independent status. The FBI, however, has referred comments to the Department of Justice.
Unfortunately, USIP officials remained in the building after DOGE's arrival, but Moose was eventually asked to leave by DC police.
In light of this incident, Democratic Rep. Don Beyer plans to report back to House leadership and take action in the US Congress. He has voiced his concerns, stating, "USIP is a congressionally chartered non-profit. It is not a federal agency. We think it's clearly illegal and unconstitutional for DOGE to be taking it over."
O'Brien, USIP's chief security officer, admitted that he had never experienced anything like Monday's events during his tenure at USIP. He expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that the Institute's mission is to prevent Americans from getting dragged into costly wars and promote peace. This unfortunate circumstances seems to steer the organization further away from its objective.
- After the Trump administration's decision to restructure the US Institute of Peace's (USIP) board, a peacemaker and former USIP president, George Moose, criticized the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for invading their building.
- On a Monday following the restructuring, DOGE personnel, including the new acting USIP president, Kenneth Jackson, were installed in the USIP building despite the Institute's claims that this appointment isn't legal.
- In response to the USIP's accusations, DOGE alleges that the Acting USIP President (as approved by the USIP Board) was denied lawful access, prompting the intervention of the FBI and the US Attorney's Office of the District of Columbia.
