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By Jesus Mesa and Gabe Whisnant
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An official aligned with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has taken control of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), a congressionally funded think tank previously targeted for closure by former President Donald Trump, according to a federal court filing submitted Monday.
The filing reviewed by the Associated Press states that two members of the Institute's board authorized the removal of its acting president and appointed DOGE's Nate Cavanaugh as his replacement.
Why It Matters
USIP, a nonpartisan organization funded by Congress and established in 1984 to promote conflict resolution and global peacebuilding, is facing a dramatic upheaval. Nearly all 300 employees were abruptly dismissed on Friday night, part of a sweeping move by the Trump administration, which has long pushed to eliminate the Institute.
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What To Know
Cavanaugh, 28, is a tech entrepreneur with a background in legal technology and financial services. He co-founded Brainbase, a startup that helped companies manage trademark and licensing agreements, which raised $8 million in venture capital and counted Sanrio and BuzzFeed among its clients, according to a 2020 report by Fortune.
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The company was acquired in 2022. Cavanaugh later co-founded FlowFi, a platform offering accounting and CFO services for startups. According to a LinkedIn profile verified by Newsweek, FlowFi reached seven figures in annual recurring revenue in its first year.
Cavanaugh has no prior government experience and no legal background. Speaking to Fortune in 2020, he said he was drawn to legal technology by the challenge and complexity of managing intellectual property, calling the space "very unsexy, but it suits me as I wanted to do something difficult."
Since joining DOGE, Cavanaugh has taken on internal roles such as interviewing GSA employees. A Wired report revealed that he is being paid over $120,500 annually—a salary equivalent to that of a federal worker with 13 years of service—despite his limited public-sector experience.
Only a Handful Remain
The takeover is part of a broader administrative effort stemming from Trump's February executive order to shutter several federal agencies, including USIP.
The Institute has long come under attack by right-wing groups, including the Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind the Project 2025 plan to slash the federal government.
According to former staff, only a handful of employees were not terminated—primarily those working abroad, who have until April 9 to return to the United States, and the regional vice presidents who manage operations in their respective areas.
Following the order, board members and the Institute's former president were dismissed, leading to a standoff earlier this month. DOGE officials, accompanied by law enforcement, entered the Institute's headquarters, prompting U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell to criticize their conduct.
The federal court filing now seeks intervention from Howell to halt the asset transfer or schedule a hearing. Plaintiffs in the case are urging the court to preserve the status quo and assert that removing the board and redirecting the Institute's resources may violate federal statutes.
What People Are Saying
The plaintiffs' court filing criticizes Howell's previous actions: "They seek relief now simply to preserve the status quo regarding the Court's jurisdiction to grant relief if it determines that the removal of a vast majority of the Institute's directors was unlawful."
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told the Associated Press: "The president is carrying out his mandate to eliminate bloat and save taxpayer dollars."
Representative Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat, criticized the DOGE takeover of the Institute: "USIP is an independent, non-profit entity and I will work to stop DOGE's illegal power grab."
What Happens Next
USIP's leadership has initiated legal action challenging the legitimacy of DOGE's intervention. Former USIP President George Moose described it as an "illegal takeover" and announced intentions to contest the actions in court. A federal judge has scheduled a hearing to assess the legality of the board's removal and DOGE's authority in reassigning agency leadership.
This article contains reporting from the Associated Press.
Update 3/31/25, 1:44 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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