A dramatic move unfolded late Friday night as most employees at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) were notified of their termination via email, following orders from President Donald Trump’s executive directive and enforcement by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
This marks the latest chapter in the Trump administration’s effort to reduce the size of government by shutting down agencies it deems ineffective or unnecessary.
Staff Notified via Personal Email After System Lockout
According to sources familiar with the situation, the termination emails were sent to the personal email accounts of employees around 9 p.m. on Friday, as many had already lost access to the internal systems. The USIP had around 300 employees, many of whom were caught off guard by the sudden layoffs.
Some staff members, including human resources personnel, overseas employees, and regional vice presidents, have been temporarily retained. Overseas staff have been given a deadline of April 9 to return to the United States.
Executive Order Targets USIP and Other Agencies
The mass layoffs come after a presidential executive order last month targeted USIP and three other federal agencies for closure. The USIP, a congressionally funded think tank, has long worked to prevent and resolve conflicts globally.
Board members—appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate—along with the institute’s president, were also dismissed earlier.
In response to DOGE’s actions, some employees had blocked DOGE officials from entering USIP headquarters. DOGE ultimately gained access with help from the Washington, D.C. police.
Legal Battle and Court Reaction
A lawsuit followed, during which U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell criticized DOGE’s conduct but did not reinstate the board or employees. As of now, affected staff have until April 7 to collect their belongings.
White House Justifies Firings
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended the decision, saying the USIP “has failed to deliver peace” and that Trump is fulfilling his promise to “eliminate bloat and save taxpayer money.”
Voices From the Institute
Mary Glantz, a former senior adviser at USIP, said she wasn’t surprised by the late-night firings, calling it typical of DOGE’s approach. Glantz had worked on conflict resolution strategies, particularly around Russia’s role in global unrest.
“We are the other tool in the toolbox,” she said. “We do this work so American soldiers don’t have to fight these wars.”
George Foote, a former USIP lawyer and current part of the legal team, stated that employees were not included in the current lawsuit and would need to file a separate case if they choose to challenge their terminations.