Elon Musk’s DOGE team allegedly trashed US Institute of Peace during controversial takeover

It sounds like the setup to a dystopian political satire, but it actually happened. The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), founded to champion peace and diplomacy, reportedly became the scene of chaos and disarray after a takeover by Elon Musk’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Armed with what was supposed to be a cost-cutting mission, DOGE allegedly left behind a trail of mayhem that included vermin infestations, missing flags, and graffiti-tagged walls.

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Musk's dramatic exit from the Trump administration and DOGE's apparent collapse have only added to the intrigue surrounding the bizarre events at the $500 million institute dedicated to peace.

Elon Musk and DOGE department accused of ravaging Institute of Peace

The troubles began earlier in the year when DOGE, led by Elon Musk and backed by President Donald Trump, reportedly forced their way into USIP’s headquarters.

The institution, though publicly funded, is legally independent from the executive branch, a distinction that didn’t stop DOGE from executing what one judge later ruled was an 'illegal takeover.'

George E. Moose, the acting president of USIP at the time, filed a sworn affidavit describing the condition of the building after DOGE’s departure. Among the most disturbing revelations were sightings of rats, roaches, water leaks, and missing ceiling tiles. Moose wrote:

Vermin were not a problem prior to March 17, 2025

Security chief Colin O’Brien described the aftermath as being like something from a zombie movie:

The offices that were abandoned for two months looked like a scene from a zombie apocalypse movie.

O’Brien, a former law enforcement officer, explained that critical functions had ceased, leading to widespread disrepair.

The Independent reported that Musk's DOGE team ejected Moose and other employees with help from local police and FBI agents. As O’Brien put it:

DOGE wouldn’t let any USIP staff in the building, and didn’t do anything to prevent the moldering food from spoiling further, which quickly attracted vermin.

What are the claims?

According to multiple reports, DOGE officials allegedly found suspicious activity within the institute during their occupation. Elon Musk told Fox News that DOGE discovered 'loaded guns' in the building and claimed there had been a $130,000 contract with the Taliban for unspecified 'generic services.'

The group also accused the USIP's chief accountant of deleting over a terabyte of financial data. Musk told the press:

That's the definition of a cover up.

However, the legitimacy of these findings has been disputed and remain under scrutiny.

Colin O’Brien and his team reported that, beyond the abandoned perishables and dried-up plumbing, they found hundreds of laptops stacked haphazardly, with their chargers dumped into bins.

Flags bearing the name of the institution were also removed. O’Brien said:

They ripped the main logo off the wall when you come into the lobby, and while we have most of the parts back, would you be surprised that we’re still missing four letters: U, S, I, and P?

Beer bottles, marijuana remnants, and graffiti marked several areas of the building. Daniel Knowles of The Economistshared an image of discarded marijuana, reportedly found in the trash. Witnesses claimed DOGE workers were 'smoking weed in the building,' according to Politico.

Federal Judge Beryl Howell later slammed the Trump administration’s actions, calling them a 'gross usurpation of power' and stating the ordeal 'unnecessarily traumatized the committed leadership and employees of USIP, who deserved better.'

Is the DOGE department over?

Elon Musk exited DOGE after his temporary 'special government employee' status expired, prompting speculation about the department's future.

USA Today reported that Trump's relationship with Musk ended in a public feud, yet the president affirmed that DOGE’s mission would continue without him.

However, the department’s momentum has slowed. Other senior DOGE figures, such as Steve Davis and Katie Miller, also departed. Russ Vought has since taken up a leading role, with the White House noting that:

The Cabinet agencies that are in charge of the DOGE consultants that work for them are fundamentally in control of DOGE.

Despite Trump’s assertion that 'the work of DOGE is not finished at all,' the agency's ambitions have significantly shrunk. While Musk had once envisioned $1 trillion in government savings, DOGE’s reported savings capped at $180 billion. Even former DOGE engineer Sahil Lavingia admitted to NPR:

I did not find the federal government to be rife with waste, fraud and abuse.

Efforts are now focused on repairing the damage, both physically and bureaucratically. Agencies are rehiring staff laid off during DOGE’s restructuring, and the National Science Foundation confirmed reinstating dozens of former employees.

As for the Institute of Peace, the road to recovery has begun under Moose’s reinstated leadership. O’Brien expressed unwavering support: