Archive · 24 May 2025
Judge Blocks Trump's Efforts to Control US Institute of Peace
A judge said no to the government, so the US Institute of Peace can keep its leader.
The government wanted to take over the Institute and change its rules, but the judge said they couldn't.
The judge said the government didn't follow the right rules when they fired people from the Institute's board.
The judge also explained that the Institute doesn't have to be part of the government's departments.
Now, the Institute's leader is back at work.
The government tried to delay the decision, but the judge said no to that, too.
This means the Institute can continue its work as usual.
Judge Howell denied the government's request to stay her ruling on the US Institute of Peace.
The judge reiterated that the Institute is not part of the executive branch.
The firings of the board members were deemed illegal by the judge.
The government argued the Institute had to belong to one of the three government branches.
The judge also rejected the government's request for a two-business-day stay for an appeal.
- Who
- Judge Beryl A Howell denied the Trump administration's request.
- What
- The judge denied the Trump administration's request to stay a ruling that returned control of the US Institute of Peace to its acting president and board.
- When
- The judge made the decision on Friday.
- Where
- U.S. District Court
- Why
- The judge denied the government's request because they did not follow the correct procedures for removing board members or justify a need to stay the ruling.
Institute's View
Government's View
Executive Branch Authority
Institute's View
The Institute argued it is not part of the executive branch and that the President's actions were illegal.
Government's View
The government believed the Institute fell under the executive branch and therefore the President had the authority to make changes.
Stay Request
Institute's View
The Institute opposed the stay, stating that the longer the ruling was delayed, the more difficult it would be to restore the Institute's operations.
Government's View
The government argued for a stay, to allow an appeal.
- Judge
- Beryl A Howell
- Court
- U.S. District Court
- Subject
- US Institute of Peace
- Former Acting President
- George Moose