The Department of Government Efficiency has found another way to slash wasteful government spending.

Reports from The Washington Post have said the United States Institute of Peace has let go of 200 to 300 people – almost the entire staff employed at the USIP headquarters.

According to the Trump administration, the institute “failed to deliver peace.” The reported firings came not long after President Donald Trump signed another executive order that targeted the USIP.

Trump trimming the fat

Trump had been working to “freeze the organization’s funding” as well as install board members who would do a far better job applying Trump’s strategies and principles.

White House press deputy secretary Anna Kelly provided a statement on the decision to CBS News.
“Taxpayers don’t want to spend $50 million per year on a publicly-funded ‘research institute’ that has failed to deliver peace,” Kelly explained.

“President Trump ended the era of forever wars and established peace in his first term, and he is carrying out his mandate to eliminate bloat and save taxpayer dollars,” Kelly also said.

Reports have also noted that the firing of the 200-300 employees happened via email, even going over an alleged snippet that those fired received.

“Dear [Employee], this letter is to inform you of a change in your employment status with United State Institute of Peace (sic),” the email reportedly began.

“Effective March 28, 2025, your employment with us will conclude,” it continued.

The USIP was first created back in 1984 under the administration of former President Ronald Reagan. While CBS News noted that it was first established as “an independent, nonprofit corporation,” it has grown into an institute with a whopping $55 million budget.

Institute of Peace didn't deliver peace

Despite the large budget, the USIP has done very little to make peace throughout the world.

A current lack of peace in the world as evidenced by pro-American countries Ukraine and Israel being attacked has left Americans, including those employed by DOGE, skeptical of the institute's operations. The Institute of Peace's failure to accomplish its primary objective, peace, resulted in a cut of nearly everyone employed there!

The firing of the employees comes very shortly after a federal judge denied USIP’s request for a temporary restraining order from DOGE. USIP had requested the judge help them keep DOGE from “completing the unlawful dismantling of the institute.”

Unfortunately for USIP, the judge said no.

At this point in time, we know that up to seven former board members are all working to sue the Trump administration, even going so far as to accuse them of “takeover by force.”