U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled the USIP president and board members were unlawfully fired by President Trump and should be reinstated.
In her 102-page ruling, Howell also declared that the transfers of the institute’s assets, including its headquarters, seized in the administration’s takeover are null and void.
Trump’s move against USIP, Howell wrote, “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.”
Earlier this year, Trump fired the institute’s board members and president and ordered the institute’s operations be gutted, saying it fell under executive branch purview.
In their filings and in court, the fired board members have argued that USIP is not part of the federal government.
The United States Institute of Peace was halted by a federal judge on Monday, who ruled that the president had overreached himself when he dismissed the board members and took steps to shut down the organization and its activities.
U. S. The USIP president and board members were wrongfully fired by President Trump, according to District Judge Beryl Howell, and ought to be reinstated. Howell also ruled in her 102-page decision that the transfers of the institute’s assets, including its headquarters, that were taken during the administration’s takeover are void.
Trump’s action against USIP, according to Howell, “represented a gross usurpation of power and a way of conducting government affairs that unnecessarily traumatized the dedicated leadership and employees of USIP, who deserved better.”. “..”.
Trump ordered the institute’s operations to be completely dismantled earlier this year, dismissing the president and board members and claiming the institute was under executive branch jurisdiction. After that, a group from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency forcibly took control of the institute’s main office and proceeded to shut it down.
To try to stop the takeover, five board members filed a lawsuit. According to their lawsuit, they should be reinstated because they were wrongfully removed from their positions.
In Washington, D.C., over 20 former USIP staff members gathered outside the institute’s headquarters building following the announcement of Howell’s decision. To rejoice.
Tonis Montes, a senior program officer for the nonviolent action team, described the situation as “incredulous, so excited, just crying for joy.”.
After being let go in March, the employees lost all of their work and their email. Many expressed optimism that they would one day be able to reenter the now-closed building.
African expert Nicoletta Barbera stated, “Americans should have faith in the United States Institute of Peace if they believe in peace and security.”. “We uphold American ideals abroad, which include the conviction that peace is more cost-effective than conflict and more efficient than war. “..”.
Mary Holmcrams, one of her colleagues, stated that the Trump administration’s attempt to seize control of a nonprofit and dismiss the board constituted an instance of government overreach. This, she hopes, will set a precedent for other DOGE targets.
When asked about the decision, the Department of Justice did not immediately respond.
USIP’s current status.
Whether USIP is a part of the federal government and, if so, whether it is a part of the executive branch was a major issue in the case before Howell.
The sacked board members have maintained that USIP is not a federal agency in their court filings and filings. In contrast, the Trump administration has maintained that the institute is a part of the government and is under the executive branch, which means that Trump has the power to fire the board.
Howell stated in her decision that USIP “is unique in its structure and function — neither a traditional executive branch agency nor an entirely private nonprofit corporation.”. “..”.
Howell came to the conclusion that although USIP is not a part of the executive branch, it must be regarded as a part of the federal government.
The author stated that USIP is an independent think tank that conducts its own international peace research, education and training, and information services, and that it supports both the Executive and Legislative branches.
Consequently, Trump’s dismissal of the USIP board members was illegal, as are the subsequent actions to reduce USIP to its “statutory minimums,” fire its president, fire its employees, and give the General Services Administration the institute’s assets.
“We are delighted” with the decision, said former diplomat George Moose, who is acting as USIP president.
It confirms what we have been saying all along, Moose said, “that Congress was very intentional about the way it went about setting up USIP, that it is an entity that is independent of the executive branch of government, and that its ability to do its work successfully depends on that independence.”.
Howell’s decision is subject to appeal by the government, which could have an impact on future events.
Moose agreed that even if the government does not appeal, it will take time to restore USIP.
This report was contributed to by Michele Kelemen of NPR.
