U.S. Institute for Peace Defies Trump In Dramatic Fashion

Hand holding white flag against a blue sky.

The U.S. Institute of Peace descended into chaos as ousted president George Moose defied the Trump administration and locked the building to prevent his replacement from entering, ultimately requiring police intervention to restore order.

Quick Takes

  • The Trump administration fired 11 of 15 USIP board members and appointed Kenneth Jackson as new president, citing the organization as “unnecessary.”
  • Former USIP President George Moose refused to vacate his position, locking down the building and preventing Jackson from entering.
  • Metropolitan Police ultimately intervened, escorting Moose out and allowing Jackson to assume leadership.
  • USIP leadership claims the organization is a private nonprofit not subject to executive branch control, while the administration asserts its authority over the congressionally funded entity.
  • The standoff represents another flashpoint in President Trump’s efforts to restructure federal and quasi-federal organizations.

Unprecedented Lockdown at Federally-Funded Peace Institute

A remarkable leadership crisis unfolded at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) when former president George Moose refused to cede control to Kenneth Jackson, the Trump administration’s appointee. The standoff escalated to the point where Metropolitan Police officers were required to escort Jackson into the building after Moose ordered a complete lockdown of the facility. The dramatic confrontation revealed deep divisions within the organization, which was established by Congress in 1984 to promote conflict resolution and international peace efforts.

According to reports, the Trump administration had previously determined USIP to be unnecessary and moved to shut it down by firing 11 of its 15 board members. The remaining board, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Defense University President Peter Garvin, voted to remove Moose and install Jackson. However, rather than accepting the decision, Moose barricaded the building and instructed staff to resist the transition.

Legal Battle Over Federal Authority

At the heart of this standoff is a fundamental dispute about USIP’s status and the executive branch’s authority over it. USIP leadership maintains that despite receiving congressional funding, the organization is structured as a private nonprofit corporation based in Washington D.C., not a federal agency. This distinction, they argue, means the White House lacks authority to unilaterally replace leadership or redirect operations without proper procedure through the board or Senate subcommittees.

“We have been talking to them for many weeks now in anticipation of just this possibility and also to remind them that we are a private, nonprofit corporation in the District of Columbia and therefore not a federal agency, and therefore, the federal government has no entitlement to come in and take over our building,” said Moose.

The White House has taken a firm stance against what it perceives as obstruction. “Rogue bureaucrats will not be allowed to hold agencies hostage,” stated a White House official. “The Trump administration will enforce the President’s executive authority and ensure his agencies remain accountable to the American people.” This perspective frames the conflict as one of administrative compliance rather than organizational independence.

Chaotic Transition and Building Access

Details from inside sources reveal the extent of the disruption during the leadership transition. Colin O’Brien, USIP’s chief security officer, confirmed that Moose personally ordered the building lockdown, causing system shutdowns and operational chaos. When Jackson finally gained entry with police assistance, he found the building in disarray, with non-functioning systems and staff using walkie-talkies for communication after regular channels were disabled.

Internal emails revealed that USIP staff had prepared for the confrontation, with detailed instructions about how to respond if DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) representatives requested access. These preparations included distributing photos of incoming leadership team members to security personnel with instructions to deny entry. The situation highlights how deeply politicized the organization had become despite its ostensibly nonpartisan peace-building mission.

Broader Context and Future Implications

USIP is not the only organization targeted by recent executive actions. The order also affected the U.S. African Development Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation, and the Presidio Trust. Critics, including the Heritage Foundation, have questioned USIP’s transparency and suggested it has historically favored Democratic appointments. Supporters counter that the institute’s work aligns with President Trump’s stated goal of keeping America out of foreign conflicts through preventative diplomacy.

USIP has vowed to file legal action challenging the administration’s appointment procedures, arguing that proper channels were bypassed. Other organizations affected by similar executive actions have seen mixed results in court challenges. This confrontation represents a significant test case for the relationship between independent but federally-funded organizations and executive authority, with potential implications for numerous similar entities throughout the government.

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