Darren Beattie Named Acting Head of US Peace Institute

Darren Beattie Named Acting Head of US Peace Institute \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Controversial Trump ally Darren Beattie has been appointed acting president of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), escalating a legal and political battle over the agency’s future. Beattie, previously fired from the Trump administration, has drawn criticism for past extremist remarks. Courts remain divided on the legality of his appointment and the broader effort to dismantle USIP.

Quick Looks

• Darren Beattie, a former Trump speechwriter with a controversial past, was named acting head of the U.S. Institute of Peace
• Beattie was previously fired for speaking at a white nationalist-attended event and has made inflammatory public statements
• His appointment is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle or absorb independent agencies
• The USIP, a federally funded but independent organization, was founded to promote global conflict resolution and peace
• Beattie will continue serving as under secretary for public diplomacy at the State Department
• USIP’s board, including Secretaries Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, confirmed Beattie’s appointment
• Trump previously issued an executive order seeking to shutter USIP and other agencies
• The Department of Government Efficiency, once led by Elon Musk, attempted to seize USIP’s headquarters
• Federal law enforcement was called in during an attempt to assert control over the building
• Hundreds of USIP employees were terminated in what was described as a “Friday night massacre”
• District Court Judge Beryl Howell temporarily reinstated USIP control and leadership in May
• An appeals court later stayed that ruling, forcing the agency to relinquish its headquarters again
• Critics call Beattie’s appointment illegal and a threat to USIP’s founding mission
• The case remains under appeal, with advocates promising continued legal resistance

Deep Look

In a move that has reignited controversy around the Trump administration’s restructuring of federal institutions, Darren Beattie — a former Trump speechwriter and longtime far-right commentator — has been named acting president of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), an organization tasked with promoting global conflict resolution and diplomatic engagement.

Beattie’s appointment comes amid an ongoing legal dispute over the Trump administration’s efforts to shut down the USIP entirely. Originally established as a federally funded but independent organization, USIP has operated for decades as a non-partisan think tank focused on preventing and resolving international conflicts. But under Trump’s renewed push to downsize the federal government and eliminate agencies viewed as ideological outliers, the USIP has become a political target.

Beattie, currently serving as under secretary for public diplomacy at the State Department, was appointed by USIP’s board — which now includes Trump allies Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. His promotion was confirmed by a State Department official, who stated, “We look forward to seeing him advance President Trump’s America First agenda in this new role.”

A former Duke University academic, Beattie was previously fired from the Trump administration during the former president’s first term after CNN reported that he had spoken at a 2016 conference attended by known white nationalists. Beattie defended his remarks, denying they contained anything objectionable. Since then, he has built a right-wing media platform that has amplified conspiracy theories, including false claims about the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

He has also shared inflammatory views on social media, including a now-notorious post from October 2024 stating, “Competent white men must be in charge if you want things to work. Unfortunately, our entire national ideology is predicated on coddling the feelings of women and minorities.” Critics say such views stand in direct contradiction to USIP’s mission of international cooperation and inclusion.

The appointment is the latest chapter in a months-long power struggle over the Institute’s future. In February, Trump issued an executive order to shut down USIP along with three other agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency formerly led by Elon Musk, attempted to seize the organization’s headquarters shortly after. A confrontation ensued, and law enforcement, including the FBI and D.C. police, were eventually involved in a forced entry.

In what was described by observers as the “Friday night massacre,” nearly the entire USIP staff — about 300 people — was fired. The board was dissolved and replaced with Trump appointees. In March, USIP and several former board members sued the administration to prevent the takeover, arguing that Trump lacked the authority to remove the leadership of a congressionally chartered independent body.

In May, District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell sided with USIP, ruling that Trump had overstepped his legal authority. Her decision reinstated the original board and president and returned control of the headquarters to the organization. Staff were offered reemployment, though many did not return due to the complex logistics of restarting operations and fears of continued instability.

But in June, a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit stayed Howell’s ruling, leading to renewed terminations and forcing USIP to relinquish its control once more. The full court declined to hear the case, and Beattie’s appointment followed days later.

Legal experts and former USIP officials say the appointment violates Judge Howell’s decision and undermines the Institute’s legal foundation. George Foote, former general counsel for the USIP, issued a statement condemning the move. “Beattie’s appointment flies in the face of the values at the core of USIP’s work and America’s commitment to working respectfully with international partners,” he said. “We are confident that we will succeed on the merits of our case, and we look forward to USIP resuming its essential work in Washington, D.C., and in conflict zones around the world.”

The implications extend beyond USIP. The outcome of this legal fight may set precedent for the fate of other independent agencies targeted by the Trump administration. Critics fear that partisan control over nonpartisan institutions could erode public trust, foreign partnerships, and U.S. diplomatic integrity.

Beattie, for his part, has remained publicly silent since the appointment. But his history suggests he may seek to reshape the Institute’s mission to align with more nationalist and ideologically rigid positions — a significant departure from USIP’s decades-long commitment to cross-cultural diplomacy and conflict mediation.

While the courts deliberate the legality of the takeover, USIP’s global programs remain suspended, its employees uncertain, and its role in U.S. foreign policy under siege.

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