Personnel from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), accompanied by FBI agents, were blocked from entering the U.S. Institute for Peace (USIP) on Friday, the organization confirmed in a statement.

This marks the latest instance of DOGE representatives—part of an Elon Musk-backed initiative—being refused entry to independent agencies, despite USIP's public commitment to cooperating with the Trump administration.

USIP Director of Communications Gonzo Gallegos stated that on the afternoon of March 14, 2025, DOGE staff arrived unannounced at USIP headquarters, accompanied by two FBI agents. They were met by the organization’s external legal counsel, who reiterated USIP’s status as a private and independent, non-executive branch agency. After this exchange, the DOGE personnel departed.

USIP, created by Congress in 1984, provides research, training, and strategic exercises for U.S. military planners, diplomats, and partners. While it has worked with multiple administrations since its inception, it was recently singled out in a February 19 executive order from President Donald Trump, titled “Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.” Following this directive, USIP officials met with DOGE representatives at their request, but Friday’s visit appeared to take a different approach.

Despite the recent tensions, Gallegos reaffirmed USIP’s commitment to working alongside the Trump administration, emphasizing its dedication to responsible use of taxpayer funds and operational efficiency.