A federal judge has intervened in the Trump administration’s attempts to take over the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), ruling that the president exceeded his authority in firing the organization’s board members and president. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell issued a comprehensive 102-page ruling stating that the actions taken against USIP were unlawful and that the institute’s leaders should be reinstated.
Judge Howell ruled that the president’s move to remove the USIP board members and president, as well as the efforts to dismantle the organization’s operations, represented a significant overreach of executive power. According to Howell, these actions caused unnecessary trauma to the dedicated leadership and employees at USIP, who deserved to continue their important work.
This legal battle arose when President Trump ordered the removal of USIP’s board and demanded substantial cuts to the institute’s operations, justifying his actions by claiming the institute fell under the executive branch’s jurisdiction. The situation escalated when a team from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency forcibly seized USIP’s headquarters and attempted to dismantle its operations.
Five members of the USIP board filed a lawsuit in an effort to halt the administration’s takeover, arguing that their dismissals were illegal and that they rightfully remained in their positions. After Howell announced her ruling, more than 20 former USIP employees gathered at the organization’s Washington, D.C. headquarters to celebrate the decision.
Tonis Montes, a former senior program officer for USIP’s nonviolent action team, expressed her joy, stating, “Incredulous, so excited, just crying for joy.”
The group, previously fired and stripped of access to their work emails, remains hopeful about eventually returning to the closed building. Nicoletta Barbera, an expert on Africa, shared her sentiments, emphasizing the institute’s crucial role in supporting American values abroad. “If Americans believe in peace and security, they should believe in the United States Institute of Peace,” she said.
Mary Holmcrams, a colleague of Barbera, spotlighted the broader implications of the ruling, framing it as a pivotal moment regarding government overreach. She expressed hope that the ruling would set a positive precedent for other targets of DOGE.
The Department of Justice has not yet publicly responded to the ruling, leaving questions about potential government actions open.
The crux of the case revolved around defining the relationship between USIP and the federal government. The fired board members maintained in court that the institute does not operate as part of the federal government. In contrast, the Trump administration argued that USIP is a governmental entity under the executive branch, which would grant them authority to remove board members.
In her ruling, Judge Howell articulated that USIP exists in a unique space, neither strictly a federal agency nor a completely private nonprofit. She concluded that while USIP is indeed part of the federal government, it does not reside within the executive branch.
Howell stated, “Instead, USIP supports both the Executive and Legislative branches as an independent think tank that carries out its own international peace research, education and training, and information services.” This independent status underpins the court’s decision, declaring Trump’s actions to remove USIP’s leadership and enact cuts to its funding and staff unlawful.
The current acting president of USIP, former diplomat George Moose expressed his satisfaction with the ruling, reinforcing the assertion that USIP’s independence is crucial for its successful operation. Moose remarked, “We are delighted with the ruling,” and highlighted the intentional design by Congress in establishing USIP as an independent entity.
Although the government retains the option to appeal Howell’s decision, the ramifications of such a move remain unclear. Moose acknowledged that revitalizing USIP will require time, whether the government pursues an appeal or not.
This ruling marks a significant moment not only for USIP, but also for how executive power is delineated within federal institutions. As former employees and board members celebrate, there remains a cautious hope for a return to normalcy and the continued pursuit of peace and security through the work of the institute.
image source from：https://www.npr.org/2025/05/19/g-s1-67681/judge-block-trump-takeover-us-institute-of-peace
