The organization’s now-former CEO, George Moose, told reporters on Monday night that “DOGE has broken into our building.” A senior USIP official added that the entry occurred after several unsuccessful attempts, per the Associated Press.
Also on Monday, the Trump administration fired most of USIP’s board and sent its new head to the Washington headquarters. The three remaining people on USIP’s board, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Defense University President Peter Garvin, fired Moose on Friday, according to a document obtained by the outlet.
USIP was targeted in a Feb. 19 executive order, alongside the U.S. African Development Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation, and the Presidio Trust.
DOGE’s visit allegedly came three days after a previous, unsuccessful one. A Saturday press release from USIP said DOGE members showed up with two FBI agents unannounced at USIP headquarters on Friday.
“They were met at the door by the Institute’s outside counsel who informed them of USIP’s private and independent status as a non-executive branch agency. Following that discussion, the DOGE representatives departed,” the release read.
Nevertheless, USIP sought to strike a balanced tone, expressing its support for DOGE’s mission.
“As an independent, non-profit organization established by Congress, USIP remains committed to the cooperation and comity with the Trump Administration it has exhibited in its work with seven administrations since its founding under President Ronald Reagan. This includes ensuring the responsible use of taxpayer funds, aggressively pursuing its ongoing efforts to modernize and make all aspects of its operations more efficient,” the press release read.
The organization underwent an overhaul following President Donald Trump’s election. Its “About” page has been changed since last year and was tailored to include much of Trump’s rhetoric.
WHAT IS DOGE? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY
The group said it was founded to support “U.S. interests by helping to prevent violent conflicts and broker peace deals abroad. Our work helps keep America safe, reducing the risk that the United States will be drawn into costly foreign wars that drive terrorism, criminal gangs and migration.”
An archived version of the website from last year shows a completely different description.
