In a move that sounds like a satirical thriller, the DOGE-affiliated group has pulled off a bold and bizarre takeover of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), complete with dramatic staff layoffs and a potential building heist.

The political drama unfolded when Trump administration officials fired the agency’s 10 voting board members and DOGE representatives essentially crashed the party, allegedly using a physical key from a former security contractor to enter the building. Talk about a power move!

A Calculated Conquest

Former State Department official Kenneth Jackson swooped in as the new president, promptly terminating most USIP staffers. But the plot thickens: Nate Cavanaugh, a former GSA staffer, has now been instructed to transfer the institute’s $500 million headquarters to the General Services Administration - at zero cost.

Legal Battles and Bureaucratic Bravado

Lawyers for the former USIP staff are fighting back, filing motions to prevent this audacious asset transfer. They argue that DOGE is essentially trying to “run agencies through a wood chipper,” according to George Foote, the institute’s longtime outside general counsel.

The Ongoing Saga

With a court ruling expected by month’s end, this saga highlights the increasingly surreal landscape of governmental power plays. Is this a calculated strategic move or just another episode in the wild world of political theater? Only time will tell.

Stay tuned, Bay Area political junkies - this story is far from over.