WASHINGTON – Most employees at the United States Institute of Peace, a congressionally created and funded think tank now run by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, were notified via email of their mass firing, the latest step in the Trump administration’s government downsizing.
The emails, sent to personal accounts because most staff members had lost access to the organization’s system, began to go out around 9 p.m. Friday, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
According to a former senior official at the institute, several in the human resources department and a handful of overseas staffers were spared. They have until April 9 to return to the United States. The organization has approximately 300 members.
According to one affected employee, regional vice presidents have been retained for the time being and will be working with their staff to return to the United States.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order last month calling for the closure of the organization, which seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, as well as three other agencies.
The institute’s president, as well as board members nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, were fired. Later, employees engaged in a standoff, preventing DOGE members from entering the institute’s headquarters near the State Department. DOGE staff gained access with the assistance of Washington police.
A lawsuit was filed, and U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell chastised DOGE representatives for their actions but did not reinstate the board members or allow employees to return to the workplace.
Anna Kelly, a White House spokeswoman, stated in an email on Saturday that the institute “has failed to deliver peace” and that Trump “is carrying out his mandate to eliminate bloat and save taxpayer dollars.”
According to one long-term employee who shared a portion of the communication, the letter to employees stated that “your employment with us will conclude” on Friday. A second email obtained by the AP stated that the terminations were at the president’s direction.
Employees were given until April 7 to clear their desks.
Mary Glantz, a former foreign service officer and senior adviser at USIP, said the late-night firings were predictable and part of DOGE’s playbook.
Glantz investigated how Russia has sparked conflicts around the world and explored potential solutions. She hoped that her research could be continued and applied elsewhere. She believes USIP plays a unique role due to its narrow focus on conflict resolution.
“We are the other tool in the tool box,” she told us. “We do this work, so American soldiers do not have to fight these wars.”
George Foote, a former institute lawyer who was fired this month and is now with one of the firms providing counsel in the current lawsuit, said lawyers were meeting on Saturday to discuss possible next steps. He stated that employees are not included in the pending lawsuit and must file a separate case.
