The White House, backed by remnants of Elon Musk’s controversial DOGE initiative, has moved to shut down the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), issuing mass dismissal emails to nearly all staff over the weekend. Around 200 to 300 employees based at the organisation’s Washington D.C. headquarters were informed of their termination late on Friday, marking what many have dubbed the “Friday Night Massacre 2.0”. A few staff members remain to wind down operations at the congressionally-funded body, which has played a key role in conflict resolution efforts in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and South Sudan.
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This marks the second attempt by the Trump administration to dismantle the institute, after a previous closure order was blocked by a federal judge earlier in the year. However, a later decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals allowed the Executive Branch to proceed with its plan. Critics, including former USIP spokeswoman Liz Callihan, have condemned the action as both legally questionable and ethically concerning. She described the move as a “cruel indifference” towards dedicated staff and warned of the immediate loss of essential peacebuilding work across global conflict zones.
The shutdown has also reignited concerns about executive overreach, particularly regarding the dismantling of congressionally-mandated bodies. The USIP, established in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, is independent of the Executive Branch, raising constitutional questions about the White House’s authority to unilaterally terminate its operations. Despite this, Congressional Republicans have largely supported DOGE’s aggressive cuts, setting a controversial precedent in the balance of power between the legislature and the presidency.
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Beyond the USIP, the Trump administration has attempted to eliminate other major government institutions, including the Department of Education and FEMA. While some efforts have been blocked by the courts, the attempt to sideline the Institute of Peace has already had tangible impacts. One staff member warned that halting operations in conflict zones would lead to “a dramatic effect on violence on the ground”, underscoring the institute’s role in mediating and de-escalating tensions worldwide.
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