The Trump administration has dismissed the majority of the U.S. Institute of Peace’s bipartisan board members, including acting President George Moose, as part of a broader initiative to reduce federal agencies involved in foreign assistance. This action stems from a February 19 executive order aimed at shrinking the federal government.
Most of the USIP board members were removed, leaving only three: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien. Kenneth Jackson has been appointed as the new acting president of USIP. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff, accompanied by police, entered USIP’s Washington, D.C., headquarters after initial resistance from the institute’s leadership. This followed unsuccessful entry attempts and disputes over the institute’s compliance with the executive order.
USIP maintains that, as an independent nonprofit corporation established by the U.S. Institute of Peace Act, it is not subject to the executive order. Representative Don Beyer criticized the administration’s actions, labeling them an “illegal power grab” and emphasizing USIP’s independence.
This development is part of the administration’s broader efforts to restructure or eliminate certain federal entities, including those related to foreign assistance. The situation has raised concerns about the future of USIP and its mission to promote international peace and conflict resolution.
