• The United State Institute of Peace building is seen on Monday, March 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP)

A federal judge declined on Wednesday to block Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from taking control of the US Institute of Peace (USIP) after the institute accused Musk’s team of forcibly occupying the building.

The emergency ruling followed an incident on Monday when DOGE staffers, aided by police officers, entered USIP’s headquarters—an independent nonprofit funded by Congress and located near the US State Department.

The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader initiative to downsize the federal workforce and cut costs by consolidating agencies.

US District Judge Beryl Howell strongly condemned the manner in which DOGE entered the building, calling it “terrorizing” and saying USIP staff had been treated “abominably.” However, she refused to issue an immediate injunction, arguing that the institute’s lawsuit was “messy” since it was filed on behalf of only five board members rather than the entire USIP board, and the ousted president was not included as a plaintiff.

Howell said she was “offended on behalf of the American citizens” but did not specify when she would hold another hearing on the matter.

Forcible entry sparks standoff

The dispute escalated on Monday when USIP staff locked the building to prevent DOGE personnel from entering. However, DOGE employees, with assistance from local police, ultimately expelled the institute’s president, several staffers, and an attorney from the premises.

USIP’s chief security officer stated in an affidavit that he had called the police for help after DOGE staff attempted to gain access. Instead, upon arrival, officers informed him they were there to remove USIP personnel.

Ahead of the ruling, a White House spokesperson defended the takeover, stating that President Donald Trump was enforcing his authority and that “rogue bureaucrats will not be allowed to hold agencies hostage.”

USIP’s lawsuit characterized DOGE’s entry as “literal trespass and takeover by force” and accused Musk’s team of “plundering the offices in an effort to access and gain control of the institute’s infrastructure, including sensitive computer systems.”

USIP challenges legality of takeover

USIP argues that the takeover is unlawful because it is not a government agency. Founded by Congress in 1984, the institute was created to advance US interests by "preventing conflicts and facilitating peace negotiations worldwide". It receives both congressional funding—an estimated $55 million this year—and private donations.

The lawsuit further challenges Trump’s March 14 decision to fire most of USIP’s board members, calling the move illegal as no justification was provided. The remaining board members, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, subsequently removed USIP’s president and installed a Trump loyalist, who was part of the group that took over the building.

Trump’s executive order last month, which classified USIP as a “government entity” and deemed it “unnecessary,” is also contested in the lawsuit, with USIP claiming the designation is incorrect and unlawful.

Read next: Judge blocks USAID shutdown, citing constitutional violation