DOGE staff enter U.S. Institute of Peace building after standoff
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A police officer outside the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, D.C. on Monday, March 17. Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images
DOGE said its staffers and acting U.S. Institute of Peace president Kenneth Jackson entered USIP's D.C. headquarters with a police escort on Monday evening amid an apparent standoff.
The big picture: Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) said on Bluesky he was at the building to "conduct congressional oversight" over "DOGE's break in" and said he had spoken to George Moose, who was reportedly fired from his role as acting USIP president.
- Elon Musk's DOGE staffers had previously been refused entry to the building. USIP spokesperson Gonzalo Gallegos said in a media statement Saturday the DOGE workers were informed of the nonprofit's "private and independent status as a non-executive branch agency."
Driving the news: DOGE said on X Monday evening Moose had "denied lawful access to Kenneth Jackson, the Acting USIP President (as approved by the USIP Board)."
- Metropolitan Police Department officers "arrived onsite and escorted Jackson into the building," per the post.
- "The only unlawful individual was Mr. Moose, who refused to comply, and even tried to fire USIP's private security team when said security team went to give access to Mr. Jackson."
- Police officers "responded to a call for service for Unlawful Entry" and "individuals left the premise without incident and no arrests were made" following their arrival, the MPD said in an emailed statement on Monday night.
- An additional statement MPD released on Tuesday did not name the individuals in question.
Zoom out: President Trump signed an executive order last month to eliminate or diminish some federal advisory committees, including USIP.
- Moose was fired on Friday along with all of the board except for members Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Defense University president Peter Garvin, according to multiple reports.
- USIP's X account appeared to have been deleted on Monday night.
Context: USIP was founded as a nonpartisan, independent organization in 1984 by congressional legislation signed into law by then-President Reagan.
- It's tasked with "helping to prevent violent conflicts and broker peace deals abroad," per USIP's website.
What they're saying: White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told AP USIP hadn't complied with Trump's order so "11 board members were lawfully removed, and remaining board members appointed Kenneth Jackson acting president."
- She added: "Rogue bureaucrats will not be allowed to hold agencies hostage. The Trump administration will enforce the President's executive authority and ensure his agencies remain accountable to the American people."
- Moose told reporters Monday "what has happened here today is an illegal takeover by elements of the executive branch of a private nonprofit corporation."
Meanwhile, Beyer said: "USIP is an independent, non-profit entity and I will work to stop DOGE's illegal power grab."
- Representatives for the White House, USIP and Beyer did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.
Go deeper: Trump targets U.S. Institute of Peace and other federal boards
Editor's note: This story has been updated with an additional statement.
