A federal judge expressed serious concerns but declined to halt the Department of Government Efficiency's controversial seizure of the U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters.
According to The Hill, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell rejected the emergency request despite acknowledging her alarm over DOGE's tactics, which allegedly involved multiple law enforcement agencies and threats against contractors.
The independent nonprofit institute filed suit Wednesday morning after what its lawyers described as a "lightning speed" takeover that sought to reduce the organization "essentially to rubble." USIP, which was established by Congress to help prevent and resolve violent conflicts worldwide, argued that its status as an independent corporation differs significantly from other federal agencies targeted by DOGE.
The confrontation began Friday when DOGE officials attempted to enter USIP's Washington headquarters accompanied by FBI agents.
After failing to gain access initially, FBI agents reportedly appeared at the private residence of USIP's security chief on Sunday. The institute's outside counsel was allegedly threatened with a criminal investigation for impeding FBI agents' entry to the building.
By Monday, three separate law enforcement groups—D.C. Metropolitan Police, Department of State police, and FBI agents—arrived to help DOGE officials access the building. Judge Howell pointedly asked Justice Department attorney Brian Hudak, "That's a lot of law enforcement at a charitable corporation building to enforce an executive order, wouldn't you say?"
A particularly troubling aspect of the case involved USIP's private security contractor.
Despite having their contract terminated by USIP, representatives from Inter-Con reportedly appeared alongside DOGE officials and used their keys to grant access.
Howell characterized the situation as DOGE telling the contractor, "Even though we don't have a contract with you... let us in or we're going to cancel all your other government business." Institute lawyer Andrew Goldfarb described the security firm as having "essentially turned on USIP" under apparent government pressure.
Justice Department attorney Hudak urged Judge Howell to consider the situation from "two sides of the same coin." He argued that President Trump had already lawfully removed USIP leadership using executive power and installed his own team.
According to Hudak, the issue stemmed from the board president barricading himself in the headquarters and refusing to comply with his firing. In contrast, USIP's legal team submitted evidence of what they called office "plundering," including a photo showing financial documents in a bin labeled "shred."
The U.S. Institute of Peace represents just one of several independent agencies facing similar challenges from the Trump administration. The takeover attempt follows a February 19 executive order aimed at downsizing federal bureaucracy.
Both the Inter-American Foundation and U.S. African Development Foundation, which were mentioned in the same executive order, have also filed lawsuits challenging DOGE's authority. Despite expressing that she was "very offended" by how DOGE operated and treated "American citizens trying to do a job that they were statutorily tasked to do," Judge Howell determined that concerned board members likely lacked legal standing to sue in their official capacity.
