Federal Judge Rules Trump Administration’s Efforts to Dismantle US Institute of Peace Are ‘unlawful’

A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration from dismantling the embattled U.S. Institute of Peace, the independent, congressionally funded organization taken over by the Department of Government Efficiency two months ago.

In a memorandum opinion, U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell argued that the actions taken by administration officials and DOGE to break apart USIP were “unlawful” and that the removal of the institute’s president, George Moose, subsequently installing DOGE official Kenneth Jackson as his replacement and the transfer of USIP property to the General Services Administration must be declared “null and void.”

In February, Trump signed an executive order firing Moose and most of USIP’s board, deeming the organization “unnecessary.” The remaining board members, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Defense University President Peter Garvin, subsequently installed Kenneth Jackson, a DOGE member, as acting USIP president.