Federal Judge Allows DOGE to Take Over $500 Million Office Building For Free

image via WIRED

April 1, 2025, 9:32 PM

• •A US district judge has effectively allowed the transfer of the headquarters building of the United States Institute of Peace to the General Services Administration.
• •The building, with an estimated value of $500 million, has become the latest focal point in a weeks-long standoff between former institute board and staff and members of Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
• •The USIP is Congressionally funded, but it operates as an independent, nonexecutive agency. Government lawyers have claimed in court filings that USIP is a 'wholly owned government corporation', and that it is therefore within the GSA's rights to transfer its property. USIP lawyers reject this claim, citing the 1984 United States Institute of Peace Act that established the agency as 'an independent, nonprofit, national institute'. They also claim that the headquarters

On Tuesday, US district judge Beryl Howell effectively allowed the transfer of the headquarters building of the United States Institute of Peace to the General Services Administration. The building, with an estimated value of $500 million, has become the latest focal point in a weeks-long standoff between former institute board and staff and members of Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency.

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