WASHINGTON — An individual closely associated with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has been appointed to lead the U.S. Institute of Peace, a think tank supported by Congress, which had been slated for potential closure by President Donald Trump, according to a federal court submission on Monday.
The submission reports that two members of the Institute of Peace’s board have given the green light to replace the acting president with Nate Cavanaugh. As per the filing, Cavanaugh is instructed to convey the Institute’s properties to the General Services Administration (GSA), the federal entity tasked with managing government real estate, which is currently canceling numerous leases as directed by the DOGE.
The legal document requests that U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington either halt this action or convene a status conference to promptly address the concerns. Howell has instructed both parties to appear before her on Tuesday for a hearing concerning the status.
In their opposing motion, the defense team highlighted that Judge Howell had previously rebuffed an appeal from the plaintiffs asking for temporary relief. They noted, “The Court permitted the new leadership of the Institute to carry out their duties, including following the President’s Executive Order. The United States remains free from judicial constraints to suspend these activities. Plaintiffs now object to the Institute’s new leadership for undertaking the exact steps required to enact the President’s Executive Order.”
This development comes after a large-scale termination the previous Friday night, which involved nearly the entire workforce of the institute’s 300 employees. According to former workers, only a minimal number of personnel, such as those stationed abroad, were not immediately informed. Those stationed abroad were given a deadline until April 9 to return stateside, while regional vice presidents were excluded as they oversee specific locales.
Two ex-employees—choosing to remain anonymous due to fears of retaliation—indicated that they were contacted through personal emails because they have been blocked from accessing the institute’s communication network. They have been prevented from resuming work following a confrontational incident earlier in the month when DOGE members arrived accompanied by law enforcement. They were provided a deadline of April 7 to retrieve any personal belongings from the institute.
President Trump’s executive order dated February identified the institute, whose mission is to avert and resolve global conflicts, alongside three additional agencies, proposing their closure. The institute’s board members, traditionally nominated by the president and approved by the Senate, along with its president, were removed from their roles. Subsequently, a heated confrontation arose when employees halted DOGE members from entering the institution’s main office, located near the State Department. The DOGE personnel eventually accessed the institute with aid from the local police force in Washington.
Although Judge Howell admonished DOGE representatives for their conduct, she did not reinstitute the board members nor did she permit employees to reoccupy their office spaces.
In their court submission, the plaintiffs referenced Judge Howell’s previous decision that denied a temporary halting order. “They now request intervention simply to maintain the status quo allowing for judicial authority to issue relief if it rules that the majority dismissal of the Institute’s directors was unlawful,” it states.