https://www.npr.org/2025/03/30/nx-s1-5345012/us-institute-of-peace-staff-laid-off-doge-trump
The U.S. Institute of Peace, a government-funded think tank, has terminated nearly all of its U.S.-based employees and is drawing up plans to fire its remaining overseas employees, escalating an ongoing legal battle over whether President Trump has the authority to dismantle organizations created and funded by Congress.

The firings come after a federal judge declined to block the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) group from taking control of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) earlier this month.

The termination notices, sent out starting around 9 p.m. on Friday to more than 200 USIP employees, are effective immediately, according to five USIP employees who received the letters. They all spoke to NPR on condition of anonymity, because all had also been given a confidential severance offer of two to four weeks' pay if they waived all rights to take legal action against the think tank.

Staffers were told to sign up for 15-minute windows to go to USIP's Washington, D.C. office to retrieve their belongings. Dozens of overseas employees and contractors have also been notified that they must submit plans on moving themselves to a "safe" location by April 9, after which they also expect to be fired, according to the employees.

Seven former USIP board members are currently suing Trump administration officials installed on the think tank's new board, accusing them of trespassing and "takeover by force."

"The dismissal of U.S. Institute of Peace employees in the dark of night is unconscionable and deeply troubling," said George M. Foote, an outside counsel for the institute who is supporting the fired board members, in a statement. He also vowed to continue to fight to "reverse the Administration's unlawful attempt to dismantle the Institute."

More court hearings over the lawsuit are set for April.