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The administration of US President Donald Trump has carried out a massive dismissal of employees of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), one of the key government institutions engaged in global peacekeeping. This was reported by The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources within the organisation.
According to the report, between 200 and 300 people were laid off – almost all of the staff at the Washington headquarters. Some employees were offered compensation and a month of additional health insurance, but only in exchange for waiving their right to sue. Those who do not agree will lose their benefits.
This move was part of a broader initiative by billionaire Elon Musk, who, after Trump’s return to power, headed the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Its task is to radically reduce federal spending and “optimise” the state apparatus.
“The Trump administration fired USIP employees late Friday night, less than two weeks after forcibly removing the organisation’s president and appointing DOGE agent Elon Musk to replace him,” WP writes.
Conflict of branches of power: USIP files a lawsuit
The United States Institute of Peace is a non-profit organisation funded by the US Congress that operates independently of the executive branch. That is why the USIP leadership and the dismissed board filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, DOGE, and the president himself.
The lawsuit alleges an abuse of power, as the executive branch does not have the right to dismiss the management of an organisation established by the legislature. It also challenges the actual confiscation of the headquarters building, which is privately owned.
The hearing in the case is scheduled for the end of April.
“The dismissal emails were full of mistakes – misspellings of names, organisations, even months. This only underlines the haste and chaotic nature of what is happening,” said one former employee.
What is USIP?
The United States Institute of Peace is an organisation with more than 600 employees and offices around the world. It plays a key role in mediating peace agreements, supporting dialogue in hot spots, and helping post-conflict states to recover. In particular, in Ukraine, the Philippines, and Africa.
Its elimination or radical reorganisation, initiated by the Trump administration, could significantly weaken US international peacekeeping efforts and cause concern among allies.
Context: The appointment of Elon Musk to head DOGE was one of the most high-profile personnel decisions after Trump’s return to power. After receiving extraordinary powers over government spending, the billionaire promised to “cleanse the government machine of inefficiencies”. However, the first actions of the new department have already drawn sharp criticism, including from human rights activists, diplomats, and even some conservative leaders.
