Renaming the U.S. Institute of Peace: whose name was given to the institution Trump tried to dismantle
4 December 18:51
A new political scandal has erupted in Washington: the U.S. Institute of Peace, which President Donald Trump tried to dismantle earlier this year, has been renamed and now the institution bears his name. This is reported by CNN, reports "Komersant Ukrainian".
Ironic renaming
Institute officials said they placed Trump’s name on the facade “honoring the most prominent dealmaker in the nation’s history.” However, this seems paradoxical, because it was Trump who in February 2025 signed an executive order to reduce the institution to the lowest possible level of work. Most employees were laid off and further funding was called into question.
White House position
White House press secretary Anne Kelly said the Institute of Peace was “bloated and worthless” and spent more than $50 million annually with no discernible results. She said the new name recalls Trump’s “leadership that ended eight wars in less than a year” – language that has already sparked heated discussions among security experts.
Controversy surrounding access to the building
In March, in the wake of sweeping public sector layoffs, former employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by Elon Musk, tried to break into the Institute’s building. The organization accused the government of illegal occupation and secured a court ruling in its favor.
Despite this, while the appeal continues, control of the premises remains with the government, and no funding for the Institute has been included in next year’s federal budget.
Role of the Institute for Peace
Created by Congress in 1984, the U.S. Institute of Peace has traditionally been concerned with the prevention and resolution of international conflict. It is not formally part of any federal agency, but its work is funded by Congress. The name change and the fate of future funding raise questions about the institution’s continued existence and independence.
