DOGE Aims to Hand Over a $500 Million Building at No Cost

Recently unveiled court papers show that the leader of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), an autonomous think tank supported by Congress, is moving to hand over the organization's $500 million headquarters to the General Services Administration (GSA) without any financial compensation.

For weeks, tensions have been rising at USIP, beginning when the Trump administration replaced all ten voting members of its board on March 14. USIP personnel denied DOGE representatives access initially, but within days, DOGE staff entered forcibly using a key provided by a past security contractor. This led to an apparent takeover, with Kenneth Jackson, formerly with the State Department, installed as president. Most USIP workers have now been let go.

Subsequent legal action by ex-USIP officials targets Jackson, DOGE, former President Donald Trump, and his administration, seeking urgent action to halt what they claim is the unauthorized deconstruction of the institution. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, while declining USIP's emergency motion to reinstate its board on March 19, condemned DOGE's actions during proceedings.

New filings from this Monday disclose the future steps for USIP under DOGE's guidance. As of March 25, Nate Cavanaugh, who succeeded Jackson, became the acting president. Filings indicate Cavanaugh was directed to transfer USIP’s properties, including the building, to the GSA. The directive was endorsed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Efforts to obtain comments from Cavanaugh and the lead Department of Justice attorney for this case were unsuccessful.

In an undated document included in court records, Cavanaugh writes to GSA's interim leader, Stephen Ehikian, stating that transferring USIP’s property at 2301 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, to the GSA, without requiring full recompense, serves the best interests of all parties involved.

Cavanaugh assesses the facility's market worth at around $500 million.

Additionally, a letter in the legal files from March 29 by Project 2025 architect and OMB Director Russell Vought approves a request for handing over the headquarters without demanding any reimbursement.

Simply put, DOGE expelled the management and employees of a think tank, put its own GSA employee in charge, and that individual is now overseeing the transfer of the $500 million headquarters to the GSA gratuitously.

George Foote, who has long served as USIP’s legal counsel, argues, “The maneuver to give the building to GSA is part of DOGE's larger intent to decimate institutions. Their endgame is to dismantle USIP, something they should not have the authority to do.”

The court's decision on whether the building transfer can proceed will be made by Judge Howell on Tuesday, with broader resolutions regarding the case anticipated later.