Judge Deems DOGE Takeover of US Institute of Peace ‘null and Void’

[Judge Beryl Howell] noted that “no court before” has addressed exactly where USIP falls within the constitutional structure. The answer to that question could have implications for whether Trump’s removal power extends to the independent institute. She determined the institute must be considered part of the federal government but does not exercise “governmental, let alone executive” power.

The institute was one of several small agencies targeted by the Trump administration. The Inter-American Foundation and U.S. African Development Foundation, which were also mentioned in a Feb. 19 executive order to downsize the bureaucracy, have also sued.