Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently made another major move aimed at saving taxpayer dollars.

In what critics are calling a "massacre," DOGE has fired most of those employed at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP).

Employees were informed of their termination via email

According to CBS News, staff members at the nonprofit corporation were confronted with an email on Friday which explained that their jobs had been eliminated.

"Dear [Employee], this letter is to inform you of a change in your employment status with United State Institute of Peace (sic). Effective March 28, 2025, your employment with us will conclude," CBS News quoted the email as reading.

USIP's website states that it "promotes research, policy analysis, education, and training on international peace and conflict resolution in an effort to prevent and resolve violent conflicts, and to promote post-conflict stability."

CBS News explained that USIP, which was created in 1984, employs roughly 300 individuals and has an annual budget of $55 million.

Deputy White House press secretary: USIP "has failed to deliver peace"

CBS News noted that the firings were condemned as "unconscionable and deeply troubling" in a statement issued on Saturday by George M. Foote, who serves as general counsel for USIP.

"The Institute's employees are fiercely dedicated to their important work, and they don't deserve to be treated with such disrespect," Foote declared.

"This action only adds urgency to the complaint that has been filed to halt and reverse the Administration's unlawful attempt to dismantle the Institute. We will continue to press this matter in court, where we are confident we will prevail," he pledged.

However, White House press deputy secretary Anna Kelly pushed back in a statement of her own, declaring, "Taxpayers don’t want to spend $50 million per year on a publicly-funded ‘research institute’ that has failed to deliver peace."

"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," she asserted.

Judge refused request to block DOGE takeover of USIP

CBS News pointed out that earlier this month, a federal judge refused to prevent DOGE staff members from taking over USIP's building in Washington.

A federal judge on Wednesday declined to block the Trump administration's efforts to take over the U.S. Institute of Peace while a legal challenge to President Trump's actions targeting the nonprofit organization moves forward. https://t.co/IoQwA6xqR8

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 19, 2025

Although U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell offered criticism of how DOGE staffers had handled the situation, she refused to issue a temporary injunction against them.