Funkstown: Foggy Bottom’s U.S. Institute of Peace under Attack

By Frank Leone

The large building with the graceful, dove-like roof that welcomes you to D.C. is the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) (2301 Constitution Avenue). Founded in 1984, the USIP is a Congressionally funded independent nonprofit corporation that advances U.S. values in resolving conflicts, ending wars, and promoting good governance. Created by legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan, and supported by every administration since, the very existence of the organization is now in question. Following a February 2025 Executive Order, President Trump fired the USIP Board, and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers forced entry to the building, fired nearly all employees and terminated operations, even taking down the USIP website. On May 19, 2025, the D.C. District Court found those actions to be illegal and ordered funding and operations to be restored. The case is likely to be appealed to the D.C. Circuit.

 A view of the USIP Headquarters Building from another Foggy Bottom landmark, Braddock’s Rock, located across the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge ramp. (F. Leone, Nov. 2022)

In March 2011, after many years of occupying various rented offices, USIP moved into its first permanent headquarters, located at the foot of Foggy Bottom’s Potomac Hill, on land transferred by the U.S. Navy in 1996. The LEED Gold certified building was designed by celebrated architect Moshe Safdie.  Safdie wanted to convey the spirit of peace by providing light through a glass wall and a billowing glass ceiling made of 1,500 glass panels, that invokes a dove’s wings. The building houses offices, a library, a conference center, auditorium, classrooms, and a public education center. The headquarters was funded by a specific Congressional appropriation of $99 million and $70 million in private contributions. USIP owns it and has jurisdiction over the underlying land.

 USIP is essentially an “independent think tank,” charged with conducting research, providing training on peacemaking techniques, and promoting peaceful conflict resolution abroad. It carries out this mission by operating programs in conflict zones, conducting a training academy, providing grants for research and fieldwork, convening conferences and workshops, publishing reports, and briefing Congress.  

USIP is a non-partisan entity governed by a Board of Directors, with 12 presidentially appointed members and three ex officio members – the Secretaries of State and Defense and the President of the National Defense University. In March 2025, the President of the Board was Ambassador George Moose. USIP had approximately 600 employees.

In happier days (May 11, 2022), the FBWE Village organized a tour of the Headquarters. Here’s a view of the Lincoln Memorial from inside the building’s glass wall.  (F. Leone, May 2022)

On February 19, 2025, President Donald Trump declared USIP to be “unnecessary” and issued Executive Order 14217 to eliminate the USIP “to the maximum extent consistent with federal law.” On March 14, the President fired USIP's appointed Board of Directors by email, and Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth fired Ambassador Moose, replacing him with one, then another, DOGE employee. DOGE employees accompanied by the FBI then attempted to force entry to the building. Ambassador Moose, despite threats of criminal prosecution from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, did not allow access. On March 17, D.C. Police used “brute force” and lock-picking equipment to allow DOGE officials to enter the building. 

Over the next few days, DOGE took over the USIP computer system, cut off personnel access to funds, allegedly dumped financial records into shred bins, stripped USIP logos from the walls, fired nearly all employees, halted all programs, transferred all assets (including a $10 million private endowment) to the General Services Administration, and began the process of leasing the building to the Department of Labor.

On March 18, USIP leadership filed a lawsuit contesting the legality of the administration’s actions citing USIP’s independent structure. The Government argued that the President’s Executive powers allowed its actions. The court disagreed and issued a 102-page opinion finding that USIP was a federal government entity but was not an Executive Branch agency; under its enabling statute, the President could remove Board members only for cause or with the approval of the majority of the Board or four Congressional committees. Thus, the removal of the Board members and all that followed was not lawful and all had to be reinstated. The court found that the President’s efforts to take over USIP represented “a gross usurpation of power and a way of conducting government affairs that unnecessarily traumatized the committed leadership and employees of USIP, who deserved better.”

The USIP prepared a “Peace Trail” brochure and map of the Northwest Rectangle shown here. The trail “elevates stories of important figures, institutions, and moments in history that demonstrate America’s commitment to peace.” The Map and supporting materials are not currently available on the restored USIP website.

Sources: U.S. Institute for Peace Website (up and running as of June 21, 2025); United States Institute of Peace v. Jackson, 1:25-cv-00804 (D.D.C. May 19, 2025); Phillip Kennicott, “Not at Peace with Building’s Style,” Washington Post (May 11, 2011); FBA History Project.