DOGE Employees Force Entry at U.S. Institute of Peace

WASHINGTON (AP) — Employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), associated with Elon Musk, forced their way into the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) on Monday, despite strong objections from the nonprofit regarding its independent status. CEO George Moose declared, “DOGE has broken into our building.”

The DOGE staff managed to enter after multiple attempts throughout the day, following unsuccessful efforts and a prior rejection from the institute on Friday. A senior official from USIP, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the situation, confirmed the unfolding events.

It remains unclear what the DOGE representatives were specifically searching for within the nonprofit’s facilities, located across from the State Department in Washington’s Foggy Bottom district. Reports indicate DOGE has shown interest in USIP for several weeks but had faced ongoing legal resistance claiming the institute’s independent framework protects it from current government restructuring.

The U.S. Institute of Peace, according to its official website, is a nonpartisan, independent organization devoted to safeguarding U.S. interests by preventing violent conflicts and facilitating peace negotiations abroad. Established by Congress in 1984, the institute asserts that it does not qualify as a “government corporation” or “government-controlled corporation” under U.S. law.

On Friday, DOGE members attempted to gain access alongside two FBI agents but were deterred by USIP’s legal counsel that informed them of the institute’s private and independent status. Despite this, the urgency of DOGE’s mission appears undeterred, as they returned on Monday evening, successfully entering the premises.

The DOGE initiative, part of the Trump administration‘s broader efforts, is focused on dramatically reducing the federal government size and streamlining operations, which has resulted in mass layoffs and significant organizational changes among various federal agencies.

The president previously targeted several organizations, including the U.S. African Development Foundation and the Inter-American Foundation, as part of this initiative. The legal battles surrounding these reorganizations reflect ongoing tensions between the administration’s goals and the protections afforded to independent entities like USIP.

This story is evolving and will be updated as more information becomes available.