March 19, 2025 Story by: Editor
The Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle a congressionally funded think tank, the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), has led to a confrontation between the think tank’s board members and authorities.
A lawsuit filed late Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Washington describes the lengths that institute staff resorted to, including calling the police, in an effort to prevent DOGE representatives and others working with the Republican administration from accessing the headquarters near the State Department.
An executive order last month from President Donald Trump targeted the institute and three other agencies for large-scale reductions. The think tank, which seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, was created and funded by Congress in 1984. Board members are nominated by the president and must be confirmed by the Senate.
Among the board members who filed suit is former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan, who was nominated to the ambassadorial role in Trump’s first term and continued to serve as ambassador under President Joe Biden and then was picked by Biden for the board.
The lawsuit accuses the White House of illegal firings by email and said the remaining board members — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Defense University President Peter Garvin — also ousted the institute’s president, George Moose.
The institute’s staff had first called the police around 3 p.m. Monday to report trespassing, according to the lawsuit. But the Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement that the institute’s acting president — seemingly a reference to Jackson — told them around 4 p.m. that he was being refused access to the building and there were “unauthorized individuals” inside.
“Eventually, all the unauthorized individuals inside of the building complied with the acting USIP President’s request and left the building without further incident,” police said.
Background on USIP
Established by Congress in 1984, USIP was created in response to a Cold War-era nuclear standoff with the Soviet Union. Its mission has been to research peaceful conflict resolution strategies and promote global stability through diplomacy. Over the years, USIP became a key player in international affairs, fostering discussions among global experts and serving as a pillar of U.S. soft power.
However, the White House ordered its closure last month, putting an end to its decades-long influence.
USIP’s Role in U.S. Foreign Policy
USIP is part of a broader network of institutions established by Congress to advance American values worldwide. The think tank has supported research, guided policy decisions to prevent violent conflicts, and trained peacekeepers. It has also explored diplomatic communication channels with geopolitical rivals like China.
“It was built as a symbol of the aspiration of the American people to be peace builders in the world,” said George Moose, a former diplomat who claims to be USIP’s acting president and opposes the Trump administration’s decision to replace the think tank’s leadership.
USIP is one of several organizations that contributed to U.S. foreign policy efforts. Others include:
- The National Endowment for Democracy (NED): A foundation providing nearly $300 million annually to support pro-democracy initiatives in over 100 countries.
- The Wilson Center: A nonpartisan think tank specializing in foreign policy research, particularly in Russia and Central Asia.
- USAID: A government agency focused on humanitarian aid, originally created in the 1960s to counter communist influence.
In the past two months, the Trump administration has effectively shut down USAID, frozen NED funding, canceled some State Department grants, and ordered significant budget cuts for the Wilson Center.
Why Is USIP Being Targeted?
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank influential in shaping Trump’s federal government policies, had criticized USIP for a lack of transparency and for favoring Democratic-leaning appointees.
In February, President Trump ordered USIP’s closure, citing a need to “reduce elements” of the federal government that he deemed “unnecessary.” Since then, he has dismissed 11 of the 15 USIP board members, citing their failure to comply with his executive order.
Does the White House Have the Authority to Shut Down USIP?
USIP staff argue that the executive branch lacks the legal authority to dissolve the institution or freeze its funding, as it is not a federal agency but a congressionally funded nonprofit.
“We have been talking to them for many weeks now in anticipation of just this possibility and also to remind them that 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,” Moose told reporters.
Despite being dismissed, Moose has refused to leave his office. USIP staff are preparing to file a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s appointment of a new president for the think tank, arguing that the administration bypassed USIP’s own selection procedures.
“We do not recognize the illegitimate president,” USIP’s lawyer George Foote told NPR.
According to USIP’s internal regulations, while the U.S. president has the authority to appoint and remove board members, such actions require either board approval or the consent of several Senate subcommittees.
