The judge ruled that the institute is part of the government but not part of the administrative body.
On May 19, US District Judge Judge Beryl Howell envisioned President Donald Trump’s administration to stop the restructuring of the US Institute of Peace (USIP), replacing its leadership and controlling office buildings.
USIP was established by Congress in 1984 as an “independent nonprofit organization.” It receives federal and private funding to promote peace through education and diplomacy.
The issue called for Trump’s executive order on February 19 to declare USIP “necessary” and to “exclude the organization’s activities to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.”
Its board of directors consists of 13 members. Ten were representative members, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The other three are members of “Ex Officeo.” That is, they hold seats for federal deployment.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses, and Admiral Peter A. Garvin, chairman of the National Defense College, hold these “industry” seats.
On March 14th, Trent Morse of the Presidential Personnel Office fired a USIP representative board member via email.
That same day, that President George Moose was fired by a former employee and replaced by Kenneth Jackson, an employee of the U.S. International Development Agency.
On March 18, midway through this shakeup, USIP and some of its fired board members sued the government and named Trump, Jackson, Heggs and Rubio co-defendants.
Howell initially refused to stop the administration from moving on March 19, but the trial was pending in court as he felt the plaintiff’s claims were not successful in merit.
Board members and USIP President Moose protested the shooting and resisted the acquisition of Washington headquarters, but failed.
The administration eventually fired everything except a handful of USIP staff and canceled all of its programs.
Control over USIP’s headquarters was transferred to the General Services Bureau and office space was leased to the Ministry of Labor.
In her ruling, Howell sought to define the role of USIP in the federal government.
The plaintiffs argued that USIP is a completely independent entity, not part of the government, or at least part of the administrative division.
The law says board members could only be removed by the president. “For consultation with the Board, felony, misconduct in duties, permanent disregard for duties, or exemption from duties.”
Board members may also be removed by votes from eight other board members or by a majority vote from members of the House Committee on Diplomacy, Education and Labor, and by a majority vote from the Senate Committee on Diplomatic Relations, Labor and Personnel.
The Trump administration had argued that it was part of the administrative division because it served as a diplomatic function.
Because it is part of the administrative agency, federal lawyer Brian Hudak argued that despite statutory restrictions, Trump is entitled to fire the board.
Judge Howell took the road’s mid-way view, saying USIP is part of the federal government but not strictly part of the administrative division.
“Instead, USIP supports both the executive and legislative departments as an independent think tank implementing its own international peace research, education and training and information services,” she said.
“The defendant’s subsequent actions that flowed from the inappropriate removal of USIP leadership in March 2025 include the termination of its grant program and the termination of staff.
She also declared the transfer of USIP headquarters illegal, preventing the government from “treating” at these headquarters or maintaining control of computer systems.
