Washington, DC – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement on yesterday’s reports that the “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)” had effectively taken over the U.S. Institute of Peace:
“Under the direction of President Trump, Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’ has apparently engaged in a hostile takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), a nonpartisan, independent nonprofit corporation established in law by Congress. This comes after the President fired the bulk of the USIP board last week so the remaining members could install a new acting president. Yesterday’s events further signal that the Trump Administration and Elon Musk have no desire to actually make America safer, stronger or more prosperous. Their goal is to recklessly dismantle historic U.S. institutions piece by piece
“USIP has worked successfully as an independent organization under seven administrations, helping prevent violent conflicts and broker peace deals abroad. Since President Reagan first signed the law passed by Congress to establish USIP, it has maintained broad bipartisan support for its work and its partnerships with other NGOs, academic institutions, and our State and Defense Departments. We urge our Republican colleagues to stand up for their values and join us in condemning Elon Musk’s assault on USIP. If Musk’s dismantling of Congressionally authorized and funded agencies was not already enough, one would hope that his takeover of an independent nonprofit organization is a clear line that we cannot allow to be crossed.”
“Under the direction of President Trump, Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’ has apparently engaged in a hostile takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), a nonpartisan, independent nonprofit corporation established in law by Congress. This comes after the President fired the bulk of the USIP board last week so the remaining members could install a new acting president. Yesterday’s events further signal that the Trump Administration and Elon Musk have no desire to actually make America safer, stronger or more prosperous. Their goal is to recklessly dismantle historic U.S. institutions piece by piece
“USIP has worked successfully as an independent organization under seven administrations, helping prevent violent conflicts and broker peace deals abroad. Since President Reagan first signed the law passed by Congress to establish USIP, it has maintained broad bipartisan support for its work and its partnerships with other NGOs, academic institutions, and our State and Defense Departments. We urge our Republican colleagues to stand up for their values and join us in condemning Elon Musk’s assault on USIP. If Musk’s dismantling of Congressionally authorized and funded agencies was not already enough, one would hope that his takeover of an independent nonprofit organization is a clear line that we cannot allow to be crossed.”