Federal Judge Greenlights DOGE Acquisition of U.S. Institute of Peace

A federal judge has refused to grant a temporary restraining order that could have reverted recent personnel changes at the U.S. Institute of Peace, a nonprofit organization focused on conflict resolution. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell concluded that the plaintiffs, five board members previously dismissed by one-sentence emails, did not meet the criteria necessary for emergency relief.

The board members sought to prevent officials associated with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from entering the institute’s headquarters, following an alleged forced entry facilitated by law enforcement. Howell, appointed by former President Obama, expressed concern that a restrictive order might lead to an armed confrontation and instead ordered expedited hearings on the case.

“I am very offended by how DOGE has operated at the institute,” Howell stated, emphasizing her discontent with how American citizens attempting to fulfill their statutory roles were treated. However, she clarified that her personal feelings could not influence the legal standards for issuing a temporary restraining order.

In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, the board members detailed events from the previous Friday, when DOGE agents arrived at the headquarters post-termination emails. The agents were accompanied by Kenneth Jackson, the Trump-appointed head, but initially denied entry.

Upon their return that evening, armed FBI agents alongside DOGE representatives were able to present a resolution that reportedly removed George Moose from his presidency. This action followed a series of escalating interactions between the institute’s security team and federal law enforcement.

Institute attorney Andrew Goldfarb revealed that an FBI agent contacted the agency’s head of security over the weekend to question its security protocols in light of the failed entry attempt. Concerns about possible repercussions led the head of security to lock down the facility.

On Monday, attempts to revoke the contractor’s access privileges escalated tensions, with DOGE threatening potential cancellation of Inter-Con’s government contracts unless they allowed entry for Jackson. Subsequently, officers from the Metropolitan Police were called when the situation became critical, leading to law enforcement facilitating DOGE’s entry into the building.

Justice Department attorney Brian Hudak argued that Moose had effectively barricaded himself in his office, justifying law enforcement involvement. The U.S. Institute of Peace, established by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, aims to promote peace through education and training, governed by a balanced board structure.

Questions have been raised about the operational scope of the agency, as Hudak contended it operates primarily within the executive branch, thus affirming the Trump administration’s authority to make these personnel decisions without Senate approval. Legal precedents both affirming and challenging such removals have been pivotal in this ongoing dispute.