The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is in for an enormous battle at its Washington, D.C. headquarters. This storm comes on the heels of a controversial DOGE org takeover. George Moose, an executive at the US Institute of Peace, personally witnessed severe water damage. He further exposed the shocking presence of mice and cockroaches found after staff completed a full inspection of the building. This turn of events has called into question the long-term effects of the unexpected takeover on the nonprofit’s smart growth mode.
At a press conference on May 21, George Moose—who served as the U.S. He scratched his head, ascertaining it was actually in good condition. The reality quickly set in as his staff was required to spend a full day just cataloging the myriad issues inside the facility. Moose admitted that the building had been “effectively abandoned for several weeks” prior to USIP winning back control. This historic underinvestment led to such deteriorating conditions.
USIP has been aware of the increasingly bad condition of the building. In response, they have recently moved to strengthen its protection and care. Moose announced that USIP has contracted with a private security company to guard the building and grounds. Further, USIP has absorbed the federal government’s obligation to care for the building. These moves show demonstrated accountability and desire to restore the event center and protect its place after the chaos stemming from DOGE.
The circumstances under which DOGE was taken over have been controversial. Moose emphasized the suddenness of the shift, noting that DOGE personnel had “stormed” into the headquarters of USIP. Here, he began to emphasize the larger political ramifications. He pointed out that the last administration had a clear agenda of trying to cut out big chunks of foreign assistance programs, which USIP is part of.
Moose made it very clear that the administration’s intent to tear down almost everything we know as foreign assistance is something he deeply cares about. Specifically, he made the case that organizations like USIP are a part of this family and they, too, are seriously hurt by this current political climate.
The infestation issues are particularly troubling for Moose, who emphasized that “vermin were not a problem prior to March 17, 2025,” when USIP was actively using and maintaining the building. This timeline highlights just how quickly things fell apart immediately after the takeover.
