President Donald Trump’s name now adorns the US Institute of Peace headquarters in downtown Washington, DC, marking a controversial transformation of an independent agency his administration effectively dismantled earlier this year. The renaming, announced Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, comes amid an ongoing legal battle over control of the institution and its mission.
Workers installed Trump’s name in large letters on the building’s exterior, with signage now reading “Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace.” The State Department shared a photo of the new facade on social media describing Trump as “the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history.” The timing coincided with a peace agreement signing ceremony between the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, scheduled for Thursday at the newly renamed facility.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the decision on social media, stating that Trump should be remembered as “the President of Peace.” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly went further, characterizing the original institute as a bloated, useless entity that blew $50 million per year while delivering no peace. She added that the renamed institute will stand as a powerful reminder of what strong leadership can accomplish for global stability.
The US Institute of Peace was established by Congress in 1984 as an independent, nonpartisan institution focused on promoting peace internationally and resolving violent conflicts globally. The agency operated with an annual budget of approximately $50 million and served as an intermediary among foreign governments, civil society organizations and US officials in conflict zones around the world.
The Trump administration’s takeover of the institute began in March 2025 when officials from the Department of Government Efficiency, then led by Elon Musk, attempted to forcibly obtain access to the building. Most of the institution’s board was fired that same month, and the majority of staff members were let go. Employees were officially terminated in July.
The administration’s actions sparked immediate legal challenges, with former leadership and staff arguing that the institute operates outside presidential executive authority as an independent creation of Congress. In May, Judge Beryl Howell ruled the government’s takeover illegal, temporarily returning control to the institute’s leadership. However, a three-judge panel for the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit subsequently paused that decision in June, allowing the administration to maintain control while appeals proceedings continue.
In their ruling, the appeals court judges indicated the government was likely to succeed in arguing the board’s removal protections were unconstitutional. The building has since been transferred from the institute’s board to the General Services Administration, which manages federal properties.
George Foote, counsel for the former institute leadership and staff, strongly condemned the renaming in a statement Wednesday, saying renaming the USIP building adds insult to injury. He noted that a federal judge has already ruled that the government’s armed takeover was illegal, and that judgment is stayed only while the government appeals, which is the only reason the government continues to control the building. Foote added that the rightful owners would ultimately prevail and restore the institute to its statutory purposes.
At Thursday’s peace agreement signing ceremony, Trump acknowledged the name change, telling attendees that he appreciated the certain name being put on the building, which he described as beautiful and a great honor. The event marked the second peace deal signing between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo during Trump’s current term.
Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for ending multiple conflicts during his second term, asserting he has concluded eight wars. However, no consensus exists on the number of conflicts resolved under his leadership. Fighting has continued in several regions where Trump claimed to have brokered peace, including ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas despite a shaky ceasefire.
The renaming of the institute follows a pattern of Trump placing his name on government buildings and institutions. The administration’s budget request for the next fiscal year called for the elimination of federal funding for the institute entirely, though the final outcome of that proposal remains uncertain as litigation continues.
The case centers on fundamental questions about the separation of powers and whether Congress can create independent entities that operate outside direct presidential control, even when they exercise functions traditionally associated with executive branch operations.