Doge illegally took over the congressionally created and funded thinktank through \u2018blunt force\u2019, rules federal judge<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A federal judge on Monday blocked efforts by the Trump administration<\/a> and its so-called \u201cdepartment of government efficiency\u201d (Doge) to dismantle the US Institute of Peace, at least temporarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doge, initially overseen by billionaire Donald Trump supporter Elon Musk, took over the congressionally created and funded thinktank in March and had fired most employees<\/a> by a late-night email after the US president targeted the institute and three other agencies with an executive order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The takeover prompted<\/a> a couple of lawsuits against Doge and the Trump administration, including from fired employees, trying to impede the institute\u2019s dismantling. The White House claimed the thinktank was in \u201cnon-compliance\u201d with Trump\u2019s executive order, whose purported aim was to shrink the federal government\u2019s size. And Doge staff forcefully entered the thinktank\u2019s building after cancelling its contract for private security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n US district court judge Beryl Howell on Monday ruled<\/a> that Doge illegally took over the institute through \u201cblunt force, backed up by law enforcement officers from three separate local and federal agencies\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The judge ruled<\/a> as \u201cnull and void\u201d all actions against the US Institute of Peace \u2013 including the removal of its board and the transfer of its property to the government services administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The institute employed about 300 people. Besides human resources staffers and a few overseas employees, most at the institute were fired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, claimed in an email that the institute was taken over and most of its employees dismissed because it \u201chas failed to deliver peace\u201d \u2013 and that Trump \u201cis carrying out his mandate to eliminate bloat and save taxpayer dollars\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n