Trump’s name added to US Institute of Peace building
President Trump’s name has been added to the exterior of the U.S. Institute of Peace Building in Washington, D.C.
The new signage reads “Donald J. Trump” and appears on the front of the building, which has been at the center of a legal dispute after being targeted by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in efforts to restructure federal agencies. The change comes ahead of a Thursday event where Trump is scheduled to host the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to sign a peace agreement that the U.S. helped facilitate earlier this year.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly praised the renaming, stating, “The Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, which is both beautifully and aptly named after a President who ended eight wars in less than a year, will stand as a powerful reminder of what strong leadership can accomplish for global stability.” She added that the former U.S. Institute of Peace had previously been “a bloated, useless entity” spending $50 million annually without producing results.
The institute had been caught up in DOGE’s efforts to reduce the size and influence of federal organizations, but a federal judge ruled in May that the takeover was unlawful. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell criticized the administration for using “brute force” to seize control of the independent institute, noting that it was outside the executive branch’s authority.
George Foote, attorney for former USIP leadership and staff, condemned the renaming. “Renaming the USIP building adds insult to injury. A federal judge has already ruled that the government’s armed takeover was illegal. That judgment is stayed while the government appeals, which is the only reason the government continues to control the building,” he said, emphasizing that the institute’s leadership intends to restore the building to its original statutory purpose.
Trump has repeatedly highlighted his role in mediating international conflicts during his second term, including facilitating peace agreements between Israel and Hamas, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Thailand and Cambodia, as well as Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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