Tensions escalate as Musk-backed officials seize US Institute of Peace

The US Institute of Peace, established by Congress in 1984, plays a key role in conflict resolution and diplomatic training

A dispute between the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the U.S. Institute of Peace erupted into a dramatic standoff on Monday as Elon Musk’s team, backed by law enforcement, took control of the agency’s headquarters in Washington. The confrontation highlights the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to dismantling government agencies deemed unnecessary and its willingness to challenge legal constraints, The New York Times reported.

A forced entry and contested authority

The takeover unfolded after the Trump administration issued an executive order in February targeting the Institute of Peace for elimination. Despite the institute’s claim of independence as a congressionally chartered nonprofit, Musk’s team arrived with law enforcement to evict its officials and install new leadership.

Sophia Lin, a lawyer for the institute, described the events in real-time: “DOGE just came into the building—they’re inside the building—they’re bringing the FBI and brought a bunch of D.C. police.”

George Moose, the institute’s acting president until his recent dismissal, called the move an "illegal takeover by elements of the executive branch of a private nonprofit corporation." The administration, however, maintains that its actions are justified under the executive order mandating the agency’s closure.

Resistance to executive dismantling

The US Institute of Peace, established by Congress in 1984, plays a key role in conflict resolution and diplomatic training. Its leaders have pushed back against the Trump administration’s directive, arguing that the order oversteps executive authority.

The standoff has been building for weeks. On Friday, the White House dismissed all but three board members—Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Defense University President Peter A. Garvin—who then appointed Kenneth Jackson, a State Department official with experience in dismantling federal agencies, as the new acting president. The institute’s remaining officials refused to recognise these actions, setting the stage for Monday’s confrontation.

Legal battles and police intervention

Over the weekend, tensions escalated as the FBI reportedly pressured institute employees for access to the building. By Monday, Musk-backed officials arrived in government vehicles, accompanied by private security, but initially struggled to gain entry. After a brief negotiation with the institute’s legal team outside the building, Washington’s Metropolitan Police arrived and removed institute officials instead of blocking Musk’s team from entering.

According to police spokesman Tom Lynch, officers were called to the scene over reports of unlawful entry but ultimately left after securing the building for the new leadership. No arrests were made.

A broader campaign to reshape government

This takeover is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to overhaul federal agencies. DOGE, led by Musk, has already moved against other entities, including the African Development Foundation, using similar forceful tactics.

As legal challenges loom, the incident at the Institute of Peace underscores the administration’s willingness to push legal boundaries in reshaping the federal government. The institute’s leaders have vowed to fight the move in court, arguing that executive overreach threatens its mission and legal standing.

For now, however, Musk’s team remains in control of the agency’s headquarters, continuing their work late into the night—with dinner orders of Sweetgreen and six pizzas marking the start of their tenure.