Several employees of the Department of Government Efficiency have broken into the U.S. Institute of Peace despite objections and protests from workers that the institute is not even part of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, making it non-obligated legally to answer to the Department of Government Efficiency.
On February 19, President Donald Trump issued an executive order explicitly targeting this organization, along with several other entities, as part of a comprehensive initiative aimed at significantly downsizing the federal government. In the wake of this directive, the administration has actively pursued measures to dismiss employees, terminate various government-funded programs, and implement structural changes within the affected institutions. These actions are being carried out as part of a broader strategy to streamline government operations, reduce federal expenditures, and centralize administrative control.
Reportedly, employees of the Department of Government Efficiency made multiple attempts to access the building, but they were denied entry by the Institute on both Friday and Monday Until they managed on their third attempt to enter the building, “DOGE has broken into our building.” said the organization’s CEO, George Moose.
The legal representatives of the nonprofit organization have repeatedly denied the Department of Government Efficiency the right to access the building for several weeks. Their refusal is based on the argument that the organization's legal status does not grant DOGE the authority to intervene in its operations or impose any form of institutional reorganization.