DOGE pushes to transfer US Institute of Peace's headquarters to government

Tensions at the US Institute of Peace (USIP) have escalated following a dramatic takeover by DOGE-affiliated leadership, leading to a legal battle over the institute’s assets, including its $500 million headquarters in Washington, DC.

According to court documents revealed in a lawsuit, the acting president of USIP, under the influence of DOGE, has moved to transfer the agency’s real estate to the General Services Administration (GSA) free of charge, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The dispute began when the Trump administration dismissed USIP’s 10 voting board members on March 14. Tensions mounted when DOGE representatives were denied access to the USIP building, but three days later, they gained entry, reportedly using a physical key from a former security contractor. The situation culminated in a full takeover, with Kenneth Jackson, a former State Department official, assuming the role of acting president. As of March 28, most of the USIP staff received termination notices.

Former USIP officials filed a lawsuit seeking intervention to prevent the “unlawful dismantling” of the agency. While US District Judge Beryl Howell declined the request for a temporary restraining order on March 19, she sharply criticized DOGE’s actions in court. Court filings from March 25 show that Nate Cavanaugh, a DOGE staffer previously at GSA, replaced Jackson as acting president and has begun the process of transferring USIP’s assets, including its headquarters, to the GSA.

In a letter included in court documents, Cavanaugh wrote, “I have concluded that it is in the best interest of USIP, the federal government, and the United States for USIP to transfer its real property located at 2301 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037, to GSA and to seek an exception from the 100 per cent reimbursement requirement for the building.” He estimated the building’s “fair market value” at $500 million.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from George Foote, longtime outside general counsel to USIP, who stated, “The effort to transfer the building to GSA is part of the DOGE playbook to run agencies through a wood chipper. That’s what they’re trying to do.”

Lawyers for the former USIP staff have filed a motion to prevent the transfer, arguing that DOGE’s actions are illegal. In response, government lawyers claim the transfer is consistent with President Trump’s executive order aimed at “reining in independent agencies.”

Judge Howell is expected to decide on the transfer on April 1, with a broader ruling on the case expected by the end of the month.

By Vafa Guliyeva