#Institute of Peace

[globalnewscollective]

Elon Musk vs. The Institute of Peace – A Real-Life Thriller

DOGE vs. USIP: A Detailed Account of the March 17, 2025 Confrontation

On March 17, 2025, a significant confrontation unfolded in Washington, D.C., as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, sought to assert control over the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). This incident has ignited debates concerning governmental authority and the autonomy of federally funded institutions.

Background on USIP

Established by Congress in 1984, the USIP is an independent, nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting conflict resolution and peacebuilding worldwide. Although it receives federal funding, the institute operates autonomously, maintaining a distinct separation from executive branch oversight.

Timeline of Events: March 15-18, 2025

Friday, March 15: Initial Attempts to Enter

On Friday afternoon, DOGE officials first attempted to gain access to the USIP headquarters, just off the National Mall, but were turned away by institute representatives. Later that evening, around 7:00 PM, Musk’s team returned, this time accompanied by two F.B.I. agents. They presented a document signed by remaining board members that removed the institute’s acting president. However, after USIP’s lawyer informed them that the institute was an independent agency outside the executive branch, they left without gaining entry.

Weekend: Legal Threats and Escalation

Over the weekend, tensions escalated as the F.B.I. allegedly threatened institute employees over their refusal to grant access. On Sunday night, Jonathan Hornok, the newly appointed chief of the criminal division of the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Columbia, contacted USIP lawyer George Foote. He reportedly made requests on behalf of DOGE officials to gain access to the institute’s “books and records.” When USIP resisted, Hornok allegedly threatened a criminal investigation.

Monday Morning: Signs of Resistance

By Monday morning, signs were posted on the doors of the USIP headquarters, hastily printed, warning against trespassing and stating that the building was “closed until further notice.” These signs appeared to be an effort by institute officials to prevent DOGE’s forced entry.

Monday Afternoon: Standoff and Police Involvement

On Monday afternoon, Musk representatives arrived in a black S.U.V. with government plates, escorted by private security in separate vehicles dressed in street clothing. Initially, they struggled to find an open entrance, circling the building before stopping. Two USIP lawyers, including George Foote and Ms. Lin, emerged and approached the vehicle, leading to a windowside negotiation.

During the exchange, DOGE representatives, including a man who identified himself as Kenneth Jackson, the newly installed agency president, invited the lawyers to enter the vehicle. Ms. Lin declined, jokingly expressing concerns about where they would be taken. Instead, she suggested taking a walk outside. The discussion ended with an agreement to hold a meeting over a video call.

As rush hour traffic backed up behind the stalled vehicle, drivers honked impatiently. Eventually, DOGE’s team did not gain entry until officers from Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department arrived. However, rather than removing DOGE officials, the police cleared USIP leadership from the building.

Monday Evening: DOGE Takes Control

By 5:00 PM, DOGE officials had fully entered the building, with Kenneth Jackson assuming the role of acting president. Inside, DOGE representatives took control of key offices, while USIP’s previous leadership was escorted out. Police reports remained ambiguous, with spokesperson Tom Lynch confirming only that officers responded to a call about unlawful entry but did not make any arrests.

Among those present were Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Aimonetti, two Musk officials who had previously forced entry into the African Development Foundation, another government entity affected by the February executive order.

Late into Monday night, members of Musk’s team, known for working around the clock, remained inside the institute. Kenneth Jackson was seen in the office of the president, actively working. Dinner was delivered—Sweetgreen and six pizzas—suggesting they intended to stay for the long haul.

Legal and Political Repercussions

In response to these events, USIP and several board members have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the legality of the board's dismissal and DOGE's intervention. Representative Don Beyer criticized DOGE's actions as an “illegal power grab,” emphasizing concerns over the precedent such a takeover could set for other independent organizations.

Broader Implications

This confrontation underscores the tension between governmental efficiency initiatives and the preservation of independent institutions that contribute to global peace and diplomacy. The outcome of this legal battle may have lasting implications for the balance of power between the executive branch and autonomous organizations established by Congress.

As the situation develops, stakeholders and observers are closely monitoring the potential impacts on USIP's mission and the future autonomy of similar institutions.

[gwydionmisha]

They aren't part of the executive branch. I don't understand how any of this is legal.

[marta-bee]

News of the Day 4/11/25: Alphabet Soup

Paywall be gone.

Lately it feels like America is that "This is Fine" meme brought to life. If we're not currently in an honest-to-goodness constitutional crisis over Kilmar Abrego Garcia, you'd need an electron microscope to tell the difference. The IRS lost its third acting head this month over their plan to share immigrants' tax data with ICE. And our economy is just, *gestures*.

So let's talk about the US Institute of Peace, a minor federal agency that last was in the news 3 weeks ago. Because that makes sense. :-)

NPR describes them as "part of an ecosystem of organizations created by Congress during the Cold War to protect and project American values globally," and says they were "designed to support research and advise policymaking that avoided violent conflict and to project American influence through programs like training peacekeepers and researching communication channels with geopolitical competitors, such as China." Their budget is small by government standards, currently $55mil according to Wikipedia. I knew about them from my work in grad school, but most people had never heard of them before last month.

But DOGE wanted their budget and their office building, so they showed up and demanded access to their systems. Since they're not technically under the executive branch they said no. The director locked himself in his office. After several attempts DOGE turned up with actual law enforcement people with guns. I imagine secretaries running down back stairs secreting CPU towers out to their car. It all feels a lot like a bad Steven Segall movie. It's actually quite a dramatic, interesting story; or would be if it weren't so horrifying.

DOGE got their way in the end, of course. The staff were all fired. DOGE seized their office building, which seems to have been the main point. A judge said he was "offended" by their tactics but not enough to stop the takeover. And now a thoroughly unqualified 28-year-old Musk acolyte is in charge. (X)

They did good work. I taught one of their whitepapers to my class. More importantly, diplomacy saves lives. I'm not sure they needed to be government-funded, but given the actual war-making obviously was, it's not a bad idea to have smart people focused on how to stop wars, just looking at the efficiencies.

Like I said, this is all several weeks old. But I was reminded of it because the Supreme Court recently cleared the way for Trump to fire some Democratic National Relations Board members, which he's not supposed to be able to do. There's speculation he'll soon be going after Jerome Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve who again is supposed to be independent. Signalgate reminded us he fired the inspectors general, who are supposed to monitor other government agencies for fraud and waste, and -- again -- he's not supposed to fire without specific cause, certainly not without consulting with Congress.

It just feels like we're losing all the referees, and the people not directly under the president's authority. Of course we are; and with everything else going on, maybe it's quaint to be worried about that. Maybe I'm nostalgic. Maybe I'm just a storyteller that wanted to tell you all about them. But I wanted to take a moment to memorialize this one group you've probably never heard of, and all those other agencies whose abbreviations even I have to Google to remember what they do. Government alphabet soup. I think we're going to miss them.

Actual news stories about USIP and the other independent, quasi-independent and regulatory groups behind the cut. I think we're going to miss them.

US Institute of Peace

DOGE has ‘broken into’ the U.S. Institute for Peace after repeatedly being denied entry. Its former leader is calling it an ‘illegal takeover’ (X)

U.S. Peace Institute Goes to War With DOGE (X)

Judge denies effort to reinstate US Institute of Peace board, but criticizes DOGE's 'abominable' treatment of staff (X)

Federal Judge Allows DOGE to Take Over $500 Million Office Building for Free (X)

Rachel Maddow also had a good interview with a representative trying to defend the agency.

National Labor Relations Board

US Supreme Court clears way for Trump to remove two Democratic members of labor boards for now (X)

The president has attempted to aggressively reshape the NLRB and EEOC, two independent labor commissions focused on discrimination and labor practices. Here’s what that means.

The National Labor Relations Act Worked For 90 years. Suddenly, It’s In The Crosshairs (X)

Elon Musk’s dream comes true: The federal board that protects workers does not exist, at least for now (X)

Plumbing Co.'s Wage Talk Ban Was Illegal, NLRB Judge Says (X)

USC Follows Amazon and Musk’s SpaceX in Calling Labor Board Unconstitutional (X)

Federal Trade Commission

Trump’s war on the FTC is his latest gift to billionaires: By attempting to fire the two remaining Democrats on the Federal Trade Commission, President Trump gave his corporate backers what they paid for. (X)

Trump can’t fire us, FTC Democrats tell court after being ejected from office (X)

FTC now has three Republicans and no Democrats instead of the typical 3-2 split (X)

Meta will face off against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Monday in a high-stakes antitrust trial that could result in the company divesting Instagram and WhatsApp. (X)

Meta whistleblower claims the company put profit over the safety of children in Horizon Worlds (X)

Federal trade commissioners alarmed as Elon Musk’s team seeks antitrust records (X)

The Federal Trade Commission opened the door to reviewing final consent orders related to Exxon-Pioneer and Chevron-Hess mergers that further consolidated the oil and gas industry. (X)

They were the very model of a gov Inspector-general….

Trump uses mass firing to remove independent inspectors general at a series of agencies

US inspectors general fired by Trump sue to win jobs back

Donald Trump should not replace us with his stooges, warns a fired inspector-general (X)

Inspector general vacancies after Trump firings draw questions about agency oversight (X)

Pentagon IG launches investigation into Hegseth’s involvement in ‘SignalGate’ (X)

What Do Firings of DOD and VA Inspectors General Mean for Military Whistleblowers?

United States Postal Service

(Okay, that name you know :-) But there’s shenanigans afoot with them, too.)

USPS chief Louis DeJoy resigns as Trump eyes overhauling mail agency (X)

The US Postal Service has been struggling for years. Now Trump’s talking about privatizing it

What DOGE is Getting Wrong About Privatizing USPS (X)

The US Postal Service is more efficient than you think. Privatizing it could cause problems for many. (X)

Postal Service Reaches Deal With Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (X)

Privatizing the Postal Service Would Hurt Rural Americans (X)

[liberty1776]

Trump Goes To War On The Institute Of Peace (But It's A Good Thing!)

[soldierporn]

Their objective is to keep conflicts from escalating, around the world. Imagine the intel they likely have, just re: Ukraine. or Gaza.

Muskrat was probably drooling on himself.

[political-us]

[antianakin]

It seems like the height of arrogance to look at a story like Star Wars with some of the most blatantly obvious and evil villains in the history of sci-fi/fantasy and when asked "What went wrong to cause the situation we see in the main story" the answer isn't "the villains were working for years to undermine the heroes from the shadows piece by piece until they were able to topple everything and murder everyone" but, somehow, "the heroes were actually the REAL villains all along because they have a religion they follow and don't immediately believe everything they're told point blank."

[allegorypaintings]

Allegory of Peace and War

Artist: Pompeo Girolamo Batoni (Italian, 1708–1787)

Date: 1776

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States

Description

Pompeo Batoni’s grand portraits and numerous religious and historical commissions established him as the leading Roman painter of his day. He painted Peace and War on his own initiative, without a commission, attracting critical praise for the work’s graceful invention. It combines elements of Rococo softness and eroticism with the newly fashionable Neoclassical style. War, represented by the god Mars, is restrained by a personification of peace, who bears an olive branch.

[mleprae]

Why should YOU!!!!!! care about parasite conservation

This is a question I get alot, esp since I usually ramble quite a bit here about parasites and diseases, well, I got the chance to do a seminar on the topic of parasite conservation but I was under a very small time limit for such an complex topic! I couldn't quite say all I wanted to say. So I am posting it here! I know everyone who follows me is a fellow disease/parasite/rot enthusiast and you do not need me to lecture you on this, but I thought I should put these out anyways, just in case anyone is curious why!

First, we need to understand the concept of viable population, a viable population is a population of a species that can survive for at least 100 years in the wild, this term includes;

Demographical changes A population must survive changes in their demographic, such as when there are more females than males in monogomous species.

Ecological changes A population must survive changes in their ecosystem, such as logging, habitat destruction, ecological islands, etc

Genetic diversity A population with poor genetic diversity is a dead one, genetic influx helps maintain genetical diversity which leads to mutations, those mutations can serve to keep the population resistant against specific diseases.

In shorter words, a viable population is a population that can survive without human intervetion for conservation efforts, this is usually applied to vertebrates, however, we will see that parasites are tied to these pilars, especifically the 3rd one. There are a few reasons why should care about parasite conservation but the most important;

Parasites help manage populations My main character for my seminar was the Ophiocordyceps sinensis fungus, a parasite that preys on the larva of ghost moths. The decrease of the population of O. sinensis led to the growth of these moths which consequently made other insects who competed for resources against those moths have their populations threatned, these moths also ravaged the roots of several trees, many who are considered threatned.

Parasites can change social hierarchies for better or for worse A popular parasite, Toxoplasmosis gondii, can infect wolves making them more aggressive and reckless. These changes often led to them becoming more successful in hunts due to their parasites affecting their risk-assessment part while also helping them climb the social hierarchy of their packs.

On the other side, parasites may weaken an individual, making them vulnerable to other members who are looking to climb the ranks.

Understanding how a parasite work may help us understand how the host works Which is easier to understand, the lock or the key? Chemical analysis of how certain parasites function within their hosts, how they change them, evade their immune system and control them may help us understand how the host works. Parasites keep populations genetically diverse and healthy.

A population that has been isolated from disease for millenia may loose the genes associated with specific resistances, this makes them an unviable population as they are vulnerable to any infection. Parasites and host hold a very intimate and dynamic relationship; the parasite evolves to keep its place inside the host and the host evolves to keep the parasite away, keeping them genetically 'active'

Parasites produce many chemicals important to antibiotic and antinflamattory drugs

Parasites are concerned with two things 1. keeping a monopoly inside your body and 2. not dying! To do this, many will produce chemicals that kill other competing entities but keep themselves alive and others will use antiinflamttory chemicals to calm the immune system down. We are able to harvest/study these chemicals to use them for our benefits

Okay, I get it, they are important to the ecosystem, but why should we protect them?

Parasites are specific to their hosts, protecting them from other parasites.... and US!!!!!

A parasite that evolves to be in one host will occupy that space physically, protecting the host from other generalist parasites. The host, who is used to this parasite, will probably have an history of co-evolution with it and be able to survive most infections. Now, if this parasite goes extinct, there will be an void in their ecological niche... a void that can be filled by other parasites... other parasites that the host is not used to.

But wouldn't that incentivate genetic diversity?

Well, yes! But it would still be an disaster! You are introducing brand new parasites to a species that have never dealt with them before PLUS, parasites do not live in a vaccuum; they compete against other parasites, the best parasites are the ones that reproduce the most, evolve the fastest and spread quickly, you know what kind of parasites are these? viruses, elliminating a specific parasite from a host open the possibility for these other parasites to evolve to be able to fill that niche and consequently, if in close contact, they may get to us. The population of these parasites now grow, their competition dies and now you have a massive growth that you cannot stop.

And, most importantly (to ME!!!!!!!!) Learning conservation and ecology means ditching the whole 'human purpose' aspect, species do not need to serve us to be even allowed to be alive. I wanted to ditch the whole 'well, parasites can help us with infections' part because it doesn't matters, they should be saved for the simple fact that they are living beings that have been here for millions of years and deserve to live as much as any other 'cute species'. I don't care if it's leeches, bacteria, maggots or mosquitoes, they all deserve respect.

The future of parasite conservation is a bit brighter than it was when I started researching this topic, a few conservation institutes of parasites seem to have been dismantled but I've noticed more and more papers being published calling for a larger parasite effort...! And I hope to see some change soon, if it helps you feel better, when I started writing, O. sinensis was considered endangered and today, they are vulnerable :)

[homielander]

You called me "Squirt," silly. Remember why? [No.] Oh, Marty— okay. But you do remember, though, that I used to be left in there for hours, days on end. Completely alone, right? Only — I was never really alone, was I? Big Brother was always watching. You were always watching, weren't you, Marty? Huh? But... growing boys have certain... needs, shall we say.

THE BOYS 4.04 | Wisdom of the Ages

[gwydionmisha]

They aren't part of the executive branch. I don't understand how any of this is legal.

[davidlikebowie-noturaccountant]

once again thinking about how eighth grade me referenced dead poets society in my essay about a separate peace and my teacher loved it

in the same essay btw i compare finny and gene to esmeralda and quasimodo in the hunchback of notre dame book where they get fused together when they die and then try to get pulled apart and both disintegrate

anyway i was a fun kid to teach

[the-magnusinstitute]

All staff and visitors,

Be advised! While the NHS Blood Donation event was a success, and Tim didn’t have to call the police even a single time, unfortunately we have just received word that the vehicle carrying our donations has gone missing en route to the NHS blood centre.

Please keep an eye out for a red and white NHS blood donation van, number plate WV61 TTD, driven by two men wearing dark blue overalls.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Emily Singer at Daily Kos:

Members of co-President Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency sent FBI agents and Metropolitan Police Department officers to forcibly remove the leader of the U.S. Institute of Peace from its headquarters on Monday night, a naked attempt to violate the law and shut down an independent organization that was created by Congress. According to The New York Times, 28-year-old tech bro Nate Cavanaugh, an unidentified woman carrying an expensive designer purse, and Kenneth Jackson, a state department official whom President Donald Trump tried to install as the organization's leader, were seen trying to gain access to the USIP building earlier on Monday before they were turned away. The trio then returned with FBI agents and police officers to forcibly remove USIP Acting President George Moose and other members of the organization that Trump tried to fire. “DOGE just came into the building—they’re inside the building—they’re bringing the F.B.I. and brought a bunch of D.C. police,” Sophia Lin, a USIP lawyer, told the New York Times in a telephone interview as she and other USIP officials were being removed from the building. On Feb. 19, Trump signed an executive order that said the USIP—as well as three other organizations, including the organization that oversees the park at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco—must be "eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law" within 14 days, as Trump had deemed it an "unnecessary governmental entity."

However, the USIP argues that Trump has no jurisdiction over the organization, which according to its website is a "nonpartisan, independent organization dedicated to protecting U.S. interests by helping to prevent violent conflicts and broker peace deals abroad."

DOGE’s forcible takeover of the organization, using police enforcement, is a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration’s failing efforts to cut the federal budget by illegally shutting down agencies and firing tens of thousands of federal workers in a haphazard and chaotic manner that endangers Americans’ health, financial stability, and national security. In an interview outside the building, Moose said what happened at USIP was illegal and that they plan to file a lawsuit to stop Trump's attempt to shut down the organization. [...] On March 6, Cavanaugh—the same DOGE bro who tried to enter USIP—brought U.S. marshals to escort him into the U.S. African Development Foundation, another entity Trump tried to shutter in the Feb. 19 executive order.  The leaders of the USADF also resisted their removal and have since filed a lawsuit trying to prevent a Trump-appointed official from shutting down the organization. “Without this court’s immediate intervention, defendants will continue their tactics and strong-arm their way into [the foundation],” USADF President Ward Brehm said in a lawsuit, adding that “within days, the damage that they do will be irreparable.”

Lawless out-of-control terrorist DOGE maniacs raided the US Institute of Peace (USIP) after being initially rejected entry before coming back with FBI agents.

See Also:

AP, via HuffPost: Trump Administration Guts Board Of U.S. Institute of Peace, Enters Building With Police Escort

The Guardian: Doge occupies US Institute of Peace headquarters after White House guts its board

[gawrkin]

What an interesting lady Morgause is.

She only wants what's best for her family, even if she chooses to side with a brother she barely knows over the husband she clearly loves and is pushing her sons to go to war, with everything that implies.

I sure hope she doesn't get demonized (flanderized) or something...

[allegorypaintings]

Allegory of Peace and War

Artist: Pompeo Girolamo Batoni (Italian, 1708–1787)

Date: 1776

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States

Description

Pompeo Batoni’s grand portraits and numerous religious and historical commissions established him as the leading Roman painter of his day. He painted Peace and War on his own initiative, without a commission, attracting critical praise for the work’s graceful invention. It combines elements of Rococo softness and eroticism with the newly fashionable Neoclassical style. War, represented by the god Mars, is restrained by a personification of peace, who bears an olive branch.