As part of an effort to save taxpayer dollars, President Donald Trump moved earlier this year to dismantle the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) and fire its board members.

While a federal judge initially blocked Trump from acting, an appeals court has since allowed mass firings to commence. 

Organization was founded over four decades ago

CNN reported that the terminations came late last week following a decision issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

This was the second time that many of the employees found themselves being fired, as they were previously let go in March before their jobs were temporarily saved by U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell.

CNN noted that USIP was created just over four decades as an independent, nonpartisan entity under President Ronald Reagan.

Its stated purpose was to promote "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."

Former staffer accuses DOGE of "cruel indifference"

Among those to be terminated was Liz Callihan, who told CNN, "These actions reflect a continued pattern of DOGE’s cruel indifference toward USIP’s dedicated workforce."

"Beyond the harm to these committed professionals, such reckless actions will immediately end the important training, education, facilitation, and research work that USIP does around the world in the field of conflict resolution," she continued.

"Having regained control of USIP, DOGE is renewing its mistreatment of USIP employees and its systematic dismantling of an institution authorized by Congress to promote peacebuilding efforts around the world," Callihan added.

Another former staff member is Hodei Sultan, and she alleged that the U.S. "is very much losing its credence and credibility on the world stage."

USIP paid $130,000 to a former Taliban member for "generic services"

USIP became a source of controversy after the Daily Caller reported in May that a team of DOGE investigators uncovered serious irregularities at the organization.

This included awarding $130,000 worth of contracts to a former Taliban member for providing it with ill defined services.

"We found that they were spending money on things like private jets, and they even had a $130,000 contract with a former member of the Taliban," one DOGE team member told the website.

"They received $130,000 for generic services," the team member explained before adding that "there was not actually a clear description of what the contractor services were for."