Federal Judge Stops Trump From Closing Peace Institute/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to shut down the U.S. Institute of Peace. The court ruled the takeover by Elon Musk’s DOGE agency was illegal and unconstitutional. Staff may soon return, but legal battles are expected to continue.
USIP Court Ruling Quick Looks
- Judge Beryl Howell blocked Trump from dismantling U.S. Institute of Peace.
- The court ruled Elon Musk’s DOGE agency illegally took control.
- USIP was created by Congress in 1984 to resolve global conflicts.
- DOGE used federal law enforcement to seize the headquarters.
- Staff were fired by email; property transferred to GSA.
- Judge says USIP is not under presidential removal authority.
- Howell called the DOGE takeover “blunt force” and unlawful.
- White House claims USIP was ineffective and costly.
- Trump administration has 30 days to appeal the ruling.
- Employees celebrated outside USIP HQ but expect more legal hurdles.
Deep Look: Judge Halts Trump’s Effort to Shut Down U.S. Institute of Peace in Major Rebuke
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2025 — In a landmark ruling Monday, a federal judge halted the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), declaring the move unlawful and unconstitutional. Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia sharply criticized the administration’s tactics, citing the use of federal agents and a lack of legal process in what she called an “illegal takeover.”
The Institute, long known for its nonpartisan work in resolving global conflicts, had come under fire after it was targeted in February by an executive order from President Trump. The directive handed control of USIP to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a cost-cutting agency led by Elon Musk—as part of a broader effort to shut down what Trump called “ineffective and unnecessary” federal entities.
Illegal Seizure and Mass Firings Spark Legal Challenge
According to Judge Howell, DOGE’s actions violated federal law and constitutional principles. The court found that DOGE improperly dismissed USIP’s congressionally appointed board and unlawfully took over the institute’s Washington headquarters—backed by personnel from the FBI and D.C. police.
In her decision, Howell said that DOGE’s use of force “violated the statutory and constitutional protections” afforded to the institute. “The President does not have unlimited power to dismantle a congressionally created organization,” she wrote.
The judge’s ruling renders all actions taken by DOGE—including the mass termination of staff via email and the transfer of USIP’s headquarters to the General Services Administration (GSA)—null and void.
White House Defiant, Calls USIP Ineffective
The Trump administration issued a swift response. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended the executive order, saying, “The U.S. Institute of Peace has existed for 40 years on a $50 million budget but failed to deliver peace. President Trump is right to reduce failed, useless entities.”
Kelly dismissed the judge’s ruling as a “rogue” decision and signaled that the administration will appeal within the 30-day window.
Inside the Courtroom: Protecting Peace Amid Politics
Judge Howell’s ruling emphasized that USIP does not wield executive power and instead functions independently through research, diplomacy, and peacebuilding. The organization was founded in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan and has operated in conflict zones across the globe, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and West Africa.
“This institute was designed to exist outside political whim,” Howell wrote. “The president’s constitutional authority does not extend to the arbitrary dismantling of non-executive institutions created by Congress.”
From Hostile Takeover to Hopeful Return
The lawsuit was filed March 18 by former board members and USIP staff after DOGE agents first attempted to access the building. A second attempt days later, supported by the FBI and local police, succeeded in forcing entry. The DOGE team then assumed control, leading to a late-night mass firing of employees on March 28 and reallocation of the building to the GSA.
The judge condemned the speed and aggression of the move, comparing it to a “bull in a China shop.”
Employee Reactions: Relief, But Uncertainty Remains
Outside USIP’s headquarters, dozens of employees gathered to hear the ruling read aloud and cheered at the news. Many acknowledged that while the ruling offers relief, it is only the beginning of a long road back.
“I feel vindicated,” said Tonis Montes, 36, who works with the Gandhi-King Global Academy. “But there’s a lot to interpret. If it were up to us, we’d be in that building today.”
Nicoletta Barbera, acting director of the West Africa and Central Africa programs, said, “I’m ecstatic, but aware this is just step one.”
Leadership Responds: Rebuilding Will Be Phased and Painful
Acting USIP President George Moose, a former ambassador, said the organization faces a slow road to recovery. “This has caused harm and damage—some of it irreparable,” he said in a briefing.
Moose emphasized that the return to operations will be phased and gradual, dependent on the administration’s next steps and the restoration of staff and resources.
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