DOGE Enters U.S. Institute of Peace Amid Board Overhaul

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) executed a controversial takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace on March 18, following a series of unsuccessful attempts to gain access. Accompanied by D.C. police, DOGE personnel forcibly entered the building, leading to a confrontation with the institute's staff, who argued that they were an independent nonprofit and not subject to federal authority. George Moose, the institute's acting president who was reportedly fired just days earlier, condemned the takeover as illegal. This incident escalated after the Trump administration had previously removed most of the institute's board members, leaving only those appointed by Trump. The U.S. Institute of Peace, established by Congress in 1984, claims a protected status that counters DOGE's actions, setting the stage for potential legal battles. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's efforts to cut federal spending and the institute's mission to promote peace and conflict resolution worldwide.