Staff members at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) received termination notices effective immediately this past Friday, impacting the majority of the organization, which employs around 300 staff members and is funded by the government. According to CBS News, the Institute's recent layoffs coincide with heightened actions from the Trump administration aimed at dismantling USIP. Sources informed The Hill that the layoffs may affect nearly all U.S.-based employees, with only senior officials remaining, while overseas staffers face prospective dismissals.

The mass terminations were executed following a federal judge's refusal to issue a temporary restraining order to halt the takeover by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which led to an escalating legal conflict regarding the administration's authority to dismantle congressionally established organizations such as USIP. As detailed by NPR, termination letters arrived late Friday via personal emails, notifying over 200 employees of their job losses.

George M. Foote, counsel for USIP, characterized the firings as “unconscionable and deeply troubling,” stating that the treatment of the employees compromises safety and undermines their dedicated work in conflict zones. Following a series of unannounced visits by DOGE staff, USIP management faced aggressive actions that included physical incursions into their Washington, D.C. office, as pointed out by The Hill.

Evidence suggests preparations were made by USIP employees to protect their data and operations in anticipation of impending layoffs. Cybersecurity measures heightened as staff downloaded critical data, only for their access to work accounts to be severed as DOGE seized control of the organization.

The measures by the Trump administration underscore a broader debate concerning executive power, particularly regarding the treatment and operation of federally funded entities like USIP, which was established by Congress in 1984 as an independent nonprofit focusing on conflict resolution and international peacebuilding. Many question whether the executive has the authority to unilaterally dissolve organizations that serve significant governmental and public interests.

The legal battles are set to continue, with more court hearings anticipated in the coming weeks as former board members pursue claims against the administration's actions. The implications for the organization's future, particularly its significant financial and operational assets, remain under scrutiny as the struggle between the administration and USIP intensifies.