A DOGE employee is put in charge of the US Institute of Peace, a court filing alleges

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press

POLITICS
A DOGE employee is put in charge of the US Institute of Peace, a court filing alleges

BY GARY FIELDS
Updated 12:41 PM EDT, March 31, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An official allied with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has been put in charge of the U.S. Institute of Peace, a congressionally created and funded think tank targeted by President Donald Trump for closure, according to a federal court filing Monday.

Two board members of the Institute of Peace have authorized replacing its temporary president with Nate Cavanaugh, the filing says. They ordered him, it says, to transfer the institute's property to the General Services Administration, the federal government's real estate manager, which is terminating hundreds of leases at DOGE's behest.

The court filing asks U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington to stop the action or schedule a status conference to address the issues as soon as "practicable." Howell ordered the parties in the case to appear before her Tuesday for a status hearing.

{snip}

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/doge-institute-peace-trump-musk-executive-order-be36e51ae6a59d08342920bf81f61698

---

Hat tip, Chris Geidner
________

Chris Geidner
‪@chrisgeidner.bsky.social‬
https://bsky.app/profile/chrisgeidner.bsky.social

Follow
you cannot convince me this is not an ai rendering

March 31, 2025 at 1:40 PM

https://bsky.app/profile/chrisgeidner.bsky.social/post/3llovpkmsrc2b
________

Anna Bower
‪@annabower.bsky.social‬
https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social

Follow
Rubio and Hegseth have installed this twenty-something DOGE affiliate, Nate Cavanaugh, as acting president of the U.S. Institute of Peace, per filing.

Before DOGE took control of USIP, the duly appointed president was George Moose, a career diplomat who first joined the foreign service in 1967.



Photo of Nate Cavanaugh, the twenty-something DOGE affiliate who is the new acting president of USIP. He is a young white man with brown hair and blue eyes. He's wearing a black shirt and smiling at the camera.
ALT
March 31, 2025 at 1:33 PM

https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social/post/3llovcbqiqc25
________

Anna Bower
‪@annabower.bsky.social‬
https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social

Follow
In addition to appointing Cavanaugh as the acting president of USIP, Rubio and Hegseth's "resolution" directs him to "transfer USIP's assets, including USIP's real property and rights thereof, and including all assets recently received from the Endowment, to the General Services Administration.."


UNITED STATES
INSTITUTE OF PEACE
Making Peace Possible

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TERMINATION OF KENNETH JACKSON AS ACTING PRESIDENT, TERMINATION OF ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, APPOINTMENT OF NATE CAVANAUGH AS ACTING PRESIDENT, AND AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER USIP'S ASSETS TO GSA
WHEREAS the United States Institute for Peace's (USIP) Board of Directors "shall authorize the president and any other officials or employces it designates to receive and disburse public moneys, obtain and make grants, enter into contracts, establish and collect fees, and undertake all other activities necessary for the efficient and proper functioning of the Institute," 22 US.C. § 4606(b):

WHEREAS USIP "may enter into personal service and other contracts for the proper operation of the Institute," id. § 4604(0):
WHEREAS USIP "may do any and all lawful acts and things necessary or desirable to carry out the objectives and purposes of this chapter, id. § 4604(m):
WHEREAS USIP may transfer or dispose of excess property as promptly as possible in accordance with authority delegated and regulations, * 40 U.S.C. § 524(a)(5):

WHEREAS USIP's Board may remove USIP's president under 22 U.S.C. § 4606(a):

WHEREAS USIP's Board may appoint USIP's president under 22 U.S.C. § 4606(a):
Be it RESOLVED that as of March 25, 2025, Acting President Kenncth Jackson is removed from his position as Acting President, Allison Blotzer is removed from her position as CFO, Mike Bruho is rentoved from his position as EVP & COO, Nate Cavanaugh is appointed as the Acting President of USIP, and Nate Cavanaugh has the authority and is instructed to transfer USIP» assets, including USIP"s real property and rights thereof, including all assets recently received from tie Endowment, to the General Services Administration (GSA).
ALT
March 31, 2025 at 1:43 PM

https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social/post/3llovv4imhk25
_________

Anna Bower
‪@annabower.bsky.social‬
https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social

Follow
The plaintiffs in USIP v. Jackson have filed a motion seeking to block the transfer of USIP’s property and assets.

Judge Howell set a status hearing for tomorrow morning at 10 am.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278529/gov.uscourts.dcd.278529.14.0.pdf
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278529/gov.uscourts.dcd.278529.14.0.pdf
storage.courtlistener.com
March 31, 2025 at 1:49 PM

https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social/post/3llow76ie6s25

[littlemissmartypants]

1. There it is: the psychopathic stare.

[riversedge]

2. At this point, the Courts are our hope. We know the Repugs in Congress will not.

[Vinca]

3. I'm totally confused by this. Isn't this a private NGO? Just because it was conceived in the Congress doesn't

mean it's open for Big Balls to loot.

[HoldenTheDemocrat]

4. Trump's Cronyism Infects the Institute of Peace - Another Attack on American Institutions!

This is outrageous! Putting a DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) employee – essentially a Musk crony – in charge of the U.S. Institute of Peace is a blatant act of political sabotage and a direct assault on an institution dedicated to preventing conflict and promoting peace.

Trump's desire to shut down the Institute of Peace has always been short-sighted and dangerous. Now, instead of simply defunding it, he's installing a puppet to dismantle it from within, all at the behest of Elon Musk's increasingly powerful and concerning influence over this administration.

The idea that this individual, Nate Cavanaugh, is being ordered to transfer the Institute's property to the GSA – which is already terminating leases at DOGE's command – shows the clear intent to gut this vital organization. This isn't about efficiency; it's about silencing voices for diplomacy and undermining our nation's ability to engage in peaceful conflict resolution around the globe.

The fact that board members are going along with this is deeply troubling and raises serious questions about their loyalty – are they serving the mission of the Institute of Peace or the political agenda of Donald Trump and Elon Musk?

We need to stand up and fight back against this blatant act of cronyism and the dismantling of yet another important American institution. The Institute of Peace plays a crucial role in our foreign policy, and we cannot allow it to become another casualty of Trump's authoritarian tendencies and his dangerous alliances. Let's support the legal efforts to stop this takeover and demand accountability for this outrageous abuse of power!