Mon Mar 17 22:50:00 UTC 2025: **Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency Raids U.S. Institute of Peace**
WASHINGTON (AP) — Employees from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) forcibly entered the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) building Monday evening, sparking a standoff with police and raising concerns about the Trump administration’s efforts to restructure federal agencies.
The USIP, a nonpartisan, independent organization dedicated to conflict prevention and peacebuilding, vehemently denies being subject to DOGE’s authority. CEO George Moose stated that DOGE “broke into our building.” The incident follows several unsuccessful attempts by DOGE to access the USIP building, including a Friday visit accompanied by FBI agents who ultimately left after being informed of the USIP’s independent status.
The intrusion comes after President Trump’s February 19th executive order targeting several organizations, including the USIP, aiming to reduce the size of the federal government. The administration has already moved to fire staff and cancel programs at other targeted organizations. While DOGE has expressed interest in the USIP for weeks, its claims have been repeatedly rejected by USIP lawyers citing its independent, congressionally-mandated status as a nonprofit corporation.
The USIP’s website clearly states its independence from the executive branch. The organization contends it does not meet the legal definition of any type of federal corporation or establishment. Similar actions have been taken against other organizations named in the executive order, including the U.S. African Development Foundation, which lost a court battle against DOGE’s actions last week. The president of the Inter-American Foundation, another targeted organization, filed a lawsuit Monday to prevent her dismissal. The motive behind DOGE’s actions at the USIP remains unclear. Police cars were present outside the USIP building Monday evening.
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