Applaud the Court Blocking DOGE's Takeover of the USIP

We applaud U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell’s bold and necessary ruling declaring the Trump administration’s attempted takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) unlawful and “a gross usurpation of power.”

By ruling that the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) efforts to dismantle the USIP were unconstitutional and “null and void,” Judge Howell has reaffirmed a critical truth: no president is above the law, and institutions established by Congress cannot be dismantled by executive force.

USIP has long served as a beacon of diplomacy and peacebuilding. The court’s decision protects its mission, its employees, and the American values it represents from political retribution and lawless executive action.

We thank Judge Howell for defending democracy, the rule of law, and the rights of public servants to do their jobs free from fear and intimidation. Her decision stands as a powerful rebuke of authoritarian overreach—and a reminder that independent institutions matter.

Add your name to thank Judge Howell and stand with those protecting our democratic institutions from political power grabs!