Employees of Elon Musk‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have entered the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) amid opposition from the nonprofit, which insists it is an independent agency, not part of the executive branch.

President Donald Trump singled out the organization, along with several others, in a February 19 executive order aimed at reducing the federal government’s size. Since then, his administration has taken steps to terminate staff and eliminate programs within these targeted organizations.

The institute’s CEO, George Moose, condemned Monday’s move, stating, “DOGE has broken into our building.”

Newsweek has reached out to the USIP and DOGE via email on Monday night for comments.

Why It Matters

The U.S. Institute of Peace describes itself as a nonpartisan, independent organization focused on preventing violent conflicts and brokering peace deals abroad. Established by Congress in 1984, the institute says on its website that it does not fit legal definitions of a “government corporation,” “government-controlled corporation,” or “independent establishment” under U.S. law.

The USIP operates with federal funding to carry out its mission and collaborates with the Department of Defense.

It is overseen by a Senate-confirmed board of directors, which includes the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense and the President of the National Defense University.

The United State Institute of Peace building is seen, Monday, March 17, 2025, in Washington. The United State Institute of Peace building is seen, Monday, March 17, 2025, in Washington. Associated Press

What to Know

A senior U.S. Institute of Peace official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, told the Associated Press that DOGE staff gained access Monday after multiple failed attempts and being turned away on Friday.

DOGE has shown interest in the nonprofit for weeks but has been repeatedly rebuffed by lawyers arguing that the institute’s independent status shields it from the ongoing restructuring of federal agencies.

On Friday, members of DOGE arrived at USIP accompanied by two FBI agents, who left after the institute’s lawyer asserted the organization’s “private and independent status,” according to a USIP statement.

In a statement on Friday, USIP highlighted its longstanding bipartisan support, asserting, “The United States Institute of Peace has successfully worked under seven previous presidential administrations since our founding under President Ronald Reagan.”

Trump’s February 19 executive order also targeted other agencies, including the U.S. African Development Foundation, which funds small businesses in Africa; the Inter-American Foundation, which invests in Latin America and the Caribbean; and the Presidio Trust, which manages a national park site near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

The African Development Foundation unsuccessfully attempted to block DOGE staff from entering its offices and later took legal action. However, a federal judge ruled last week that eliminating most of its grants and staff was lawful. Meanwhile, the Inter-American Foundation’s president sued on Monday to challenge her February firing by the Trump administration.

What People Are Saying

Tara D. Sonenshine, former executive vice president of USIP and ex-undersecretary of state for public diplomacy under former President Barack Obama, emphasized the institute’s value, stating in a column for U.S. News & World Report: “Considering its far-reaching work training the next generation of peacebuilders and curbing violent conflict around the world, USIP is a bargain for America at any price.”

Stewart Patrick, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, expressed concern over the broader implications of the executive order, noting to the Institue of Geoeconomics that it: “marks another retreat from engagement with UN organizations,” potentially undermining U.S. influence in global diplomacy. ​

What Happens Next

It was not immediately clear what the DOGE staffers were doing or looking for in the nonprofit’s building, which is across the street from the State Department in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood.

This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.

Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.

Update: 3/17/25, 7:42 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update: 3/17/25, 7:49 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.