Employees and partners of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) sued the Trump administration for dismantling USIP, which is a congressionally-mandated nonprofit organization created to promote global conflict resolution. The plaintiffs argue that the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) does not have the authority to terminate USIP employees and board members. They argue that the administration's actions violate the USIP Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the separation of powers.
This case is related to _U.S. Institute of Peace v. Jackson _(1:25-cv-00804). In that case, the court granted summary judgment for the plaintiff on May 19, ruling that the President’s removal of USIP directors was unlawful and voided all acts by the replacement leadership. The government appealed, and the D.C. Circuit granted the government’s motion to stay the _Jackson_ judgment pending appeal. On June 5, this court granted a joint motion to stay proceedings in _Pippenger_ pending further developments in _Jackson_. The stay was automatically lifted on June 27 when the D.C. Circuit stayed the _Jackson_ judgment, but both parties then jointly moved to reinstate and modify the stay. On July 7, the court approved a new stay structure. The stay will now remain in place until either (1) the D.C. Circuit denies _en banc_ rehearing in _Jackson _or the Supreme Court grants a stay, or (2) the _Jackson_ judgment is modified or vacated. The plaintiffs may also lift the stay at any time with two weeks’ notice.
