Judge Rules DOGE Can Retain $500 Million USIP Headquarters Without Payment

Federal Judge Beryl Howell has ruled that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) can retain control of the $500 million United States Institute of Peace (USIP) headquarters

ContentsCourt ruling declares irreversible transferDispute over control and legal statusUncertainty over ownership and future of USIPThe decision, issued on Tuesday, follows an ongoing legal dispute over the property’s status. The judge stated that reversing the transfer is not an option now since the transfer has already taken place.

Court ruling declares irreversible transfer

DOGE officials transferred the USIP headquarters, located in Washington, DC, to the General Services Administration (GSA) on Saturday. Judge Howell ruled that the transfer is complete and cannot be undone. She stated that since the move is no longer a proposal but a finalized action, blocking it would serve no immediate legal purpose.

The decision has sparked frustration among former USIP staff. George Foote, who previously served as outside general counsel to the institute, compared the situation to a burglary, arguing that the court’s response ignores removing valuable assets. Despite the ruling, the legal battle over the institute’s ownership continues.

Dispute over control and legal status

The headquarters has become a central issue in a broader conflict between USIP’s former board and members of DOGE. On March 14, the Trump administration removed the institute’s 10 voting board members. When DOGE employees attempted to enter the building, USIP staff blocked access. However, DOGE officials returned with a key a former security contractor provided, gaining physical control of the property.

Following this takeover, leadership changes took place within the institute. Former State Department official Kenneth Jackson was appointed USIP president but later replaced by DOGE staffer Nate Cavanaugh on March 25. By last Friday, most USIP employees had received termination notices, halting operations.Legal filings show that Cavanaugh moved to transfer the headquarters to the GSA without requiring payment. In a letter, he argued that the move would benefit USIP, the federal government, and the country. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought later approved the transfer at no cost.

Uncertainty over ownership and future of USIP

Under the current arrangement, the USIP headquarters remains under federal control, but its future remains uncertain. Judge Howell stated that there is no immediate need to block the transfer of the institute’s $20 million endowment, though it could face legal challenges in the future.

A fundamental legal issue is whether the United States Institute of Peace is a fully federal government body or operates independently. DOGE’s legal team supports the claim that the institute serves as a government corporation because the GSA can claim its property assets.

According to USIP attorneys the United States Institute of Peace Act of 1984 created USIP as an independent nonprofit institution. The private donation foundation responsible for funding the headquarters construction disagrees with the classification of this structure as a public asset. Judge Howell understood that opposing sides delivered contradicting points of view. Her ruling pointed out unclear legal definitions surrounding USIP because few cases have outlined appropriate federal law definitions of such technologies.