Allies of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk took control of the US Institute of Peace on Monday, removing its leader from the taxpayer-funded organisation focused on conflict resolution. The peaceful demonstration of resistance, fitting for the institution, was one of the most dramatic confrontations involving Trump as he continued to challenge established norms while advancing his efforts to reshape Washington and enforce his "America First" agenda. Last month, Trump issued an order calling for the US Institute of Peace, established by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 to support the United States in preventing and resolving international conflicts, to be "eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law."

The institute stated that it followed directives from Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and provided evidence of its cost-effectiveness. It highlighted that it owns its headquarters, a modern building near the State Department overlooking the National Mall and that Congress directly allocates its $55 million annual budget. However, the DOGE team remained unconvinced and attempted to enter the building on Monday. In response, the institute denied them access and later released a statement on behalf of its acting president, George Moose, saying, "DOGE has broken into our building."

The Trump administration revealed that it had dismissed nearly all members of the institute’s bipartisan board, retaining only three, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

In an official statement dated Friday and shared on X by DOGE, the newly appointed board announced that it had voted to remove Moose, a seasoned former ambassador.

DOGE stated that Moose "denied lawful access" to the institute's new president, who had to be escorted in by Washington police. Speaking to reporters after his removal, Moose expressed, "It's not a happy day for anybody that somehow this misunderstanding of our intent, our purpose, has reached a point where folks are going to come and try to shut us down." 

Former State Department official Kenneth Jackson was appointed the new president. He had previously played a role in dismantling the US Agency for International Development. Senator Marco Rubio cut more than 80 per cent of US development aid, with Trump dismissing foreign assistance as a waste of taxpayer money. Since returning to the White House, Trump and Musk have taken steps to dismantle entire government agencies despite facing legal challenges as Congress controls funding. Undeterred, Trump recently moved to shut down longstanding US-funded international broadcasting services, including Voice of America.