On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell effectively allowed the transfer of the U.S. Peace Institute headquarters building to the General Services Administration.
In fact, according to Howell’s ruling, the building and all of its properties had been transferred on Saturday. “The deal is no longer just a ‘proposal’, but a completion,” Howell wrote.
Buildings, estimated Valued at $500 millionhas become the latest focus in a week-long stalemate for former college staff and Elon Musk’s so-called government efficiency division members. On March 14, the Trump administration fired 10 members of the USIP voting committee. When USIP employees banned Doge employees from entering their headquarters in Washington, D.C., a few days later, the Doge team returned with the physical keys obtained from the former security contractor.
Takeover is both physical and institutional. Former State Department official Kenneth Jackson was appointed USIP chairman and was replaced on March 25 by Doge staffer Nate Cavanaugh, who had previously been assigned to the General Services Administration. By last Friday night, most USIP staff had received a termination notice, effectively closing the agency.
On Monday, the fight against the building passed court documents in lawsuits filed by former USIP staff against Cavanaugh, Doge, Doge, Donald Trump and other government members. Not only do they reveal that Cavanaugh has recently moved to the GSA, but that he plans to pay the government at all costs.
Cavanaugh told GSA acting executive elder Stephen Ehikian in a letter contained in the court case file that “the transfer is in the best interest of the USIP, the federal government and the United States.” In another letter dated March 29, the Director of Management and Budget Russell Vorge approved Ehikian’s request to “set up the repayment amount for free” the facility.
An application filed by a previously unreported court suggests the Trump administration’s attempt to obtain the building’s justification.
“Transfer of American institutions [sic] “Peace (USIP) headquarters facilities … are a priority for the Trump administration,” wrote GSA’s Michael Peters. name Specialist Public building services In January, use the transfer request form. “The transfer will allow GSA to meet other government space requirements in a cost-effective way at USIP headquarters facilities. However, GSA does not have enough time to budget the cost of obtaining USIP headquarters facilities at fair market value, given that GSA’s direct priority is not the GSA’s priority, and given the limited resources of the construction resources, the company’s priority is limited.”
In other words, GSA requires office space but is unable to obtain it at fair market value. (Earlier this year GSA targets hundreds of government buildings For sale, including FBI Headquarters and a complex Housing CIA Facilities)
Although Doge asserts itself among dozens of federal agencies, the USIP conflict is unique. USIP is funded by Congress, but it is an independent non-executive body. Government lawyers claimed in court documents that USIP is a “whomally owned government company” and therefore the right of GSA to transfer its property is included. USIP Lawyer reject This claim is cited by the 1984 American Institute of Peace Act Established The institution is “independent, non-profit, national institute”. They also claim that the headquarters itself is “a large amount of private funds and private contributions received from the endowment fund.”
Howell previously rejected the USIP request for a temporary restraining order that would restore the institute’s board of directors. Her final ruling in this case is expected to be filed at the end of April.
This is a developing story. Please check it for updates.
Other reports by Matt Giles.
