Trump administration fires most of US Institute of Peace's board as DOGE enforces foreign assistance cuts

The

Trump administration

made a significant move on March 17, 2025, by firing most of the board members of the

US Institute of Peace

(USIP) in an aggressive push to target organizations linked to

foreign assistance

. The institute, a congressionally funded independent nonprofit, works to advance US values in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and governance. The board members were dismissed after an

executive order

aimed at shrinking the size of the federal government.
The firing of President and CEO George Moose on March 14, 2025, came after the Trump administration issued an order that threatened the existence of several entities involved in international aid and diplomacy, including USIP. The order also led to the removal of other agency leaders, with USIP now becoming a key target in the administration's broader foreign assistance overhaul.
Board members removed under Trump's executive order
On March 14, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Defense University President Peter Garvin were among the three remaining board members who took the step of dismissing Moose. The dismissal followed a series of confrontations between USIP's leadership and members of the

Department of Government Efficiency

(DOGE), a team tasked with enforcing Trump's executive order. Although USIP argued its status as an independent nonprofit, DOGE workers were allowed to enter the building despite protests and legal warnings.

USIP called the police on March 17, 2025, as DOGE workers, having failed to enter the building earlier, managed to gain access with police assistance. Security teams who had previously managed the building were dismissed, and the situation escalated with federal agents arriving at the scene.
Moose vows legal action against illegal takeover
George Moose, who had been leading USIP, expressed strong opposition to the administration's actions. In a statement to reporters, he denounced the move as an illegal takeover by the executive branch. He emphasized that USIP was created as an independent nonprofit and does not fall under the definition of a government agency. Moose also pointed out that USIP's mission aligned with Trump's stated goals of avoiding foreign conflicts and fostering peace without direct military intervention.
The broader implications of Trump's executive order
The USIP's conflict with the administration is part of a larger trend following an executive order signed by Trump on February 19, 2025. This order seeks to reduce the scope and reach of several organizations involved in foreign assistance, including the US African Development Foundation and the Inter-American Foundation. Legal challenges are already unfolding, with agencies like the African Development Foundation taking the matter to court after losing staff and grant funding.
The outcome of these developments could reshape US foreign policy and international aid moving forward, with questions about the balance between government oversight and the autonomy of independent nonprofit organizations.