Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration Dismantlement of US Institute of Peace

 The Associated Press published on 19 May 2025 an article titled "Judge Bars Trump Administration from Shutting Peace Institute that Sought to End Violent Conflicts" by Gary Fields.

A US District Court judge blocked the Trump administration from moving forward with the dismantling of the US Institute of Peace in Washington.  The judge ruled that the think tank was created and funded by Congress and was taken over illegally by DOGE through "blunt force backed up by law enforcement officers from three separate local and federal agencies."  The administration has 30 days to appeal.

Comment:  This was one of the most egregious decisions by the Trump administration to dismantle a foreign affairs related organization. Although the administration may appeal the ruling, it probably faces an uphill battle in the case of USIP.   

Somali-American Think Tank

A group of Somali-Americans established a think tank in November 2011 called The Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CfPAR).  Based in Columbus, Ohio, it is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization whose stated vision is to be "the catalyst for positive change in Somalia." Its goal is to study and analyze policies that foreign governments, regional and international organizations follow in Somalia.  It also looks at the polices of the Somali government in its interaction with foreign governments, NGOs, and private companies.

New Somali Think Tank

Somalia has launched its first think tank, the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS), in Mogadishu.  In January, it also launched the Forum for Ideas and its first topic for discussion was the U.S. recognition of Somalia.  Click here for a press release on this event in English and Somali.

I offer my congratulations to the organizers of HIPS and wish them every success.