The Trump administration renamed the United States Institute of Peace after Donald Trump on Tuesday, December 3, 2025, adding his name in large letters to the organization’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., even as a legal battle over control of the independent agency continues in federal court.
The building now displays “Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace” on its facade, a change announced by the State Department to “reflect the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history.” The renaming came just one day before Trump participated in a peace agreement signing ceremony at the newly renamed building between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the decision, stating that Trump is the “President of Peace.”
The ceremony on Wednesday, December 4, 2025, marked a peace agreement signing between Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Trump’s name had been added to the building signage just hours before the event.
However, the renaming drew sharp criticism from those representing the institute’s former leadership and staff. George Foote, an attorney for former leaders and staff of the institute, condemned the move in a statement.
Foote said renaming the USIP building adds insult to injury. A federal judge has already ruled that the government’s armed takeover was illegal.
The United States Institute of Peace has been embroiled in a contentious legal battle since the Trump administration moved to dismantle it earlier this year. The independent agency was created by Congress in 1984 as a nonpartisan institution dedicated to promoting peace internationally and resolving violent conflicts.
The conflict began in March 2025, when the Department of Government Efficiency, then led by Elon Musk, moved to seize control of the organization. Most of the USIP staff were fired in March, along with the institute’s board.
The legal proceedings have produced a series of conflicting rulings. A federal judge ruled the government takeover illegal, providing temporary relief to the institute’s leadership. In May 2025, a district court overturned the takeover action, returning control to USIP leadership.
However, an appeals court reversed the district ruling in June 2025, allowing the administration to proceed with its plans. USIP employees were terminated again in July 2025, and the building was transferred to the General Services Administration, which manages federal buildings.
An appeals court hearing on the merits of the case had been scheduled for this month but has since been postponed, leaving the institute’s future uncertain. The ongoing litigation centers on whether the Trump administration has the constitutional authority to dismantle an independent entity created by Congress.
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly defended the renaming and the administration’s actions toward the institute. She described the organization as having previously been wasteful, claiming it spent $50 million per year while delivering no meaningful results.
The institute’s headquarters building, located near the State Department in Washington, D.C., now serves as a backdrop for Trump administration diplomatic events. The peace agreement signing between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo represents one such high-profile use of the facility.
The renaming is the latest in a series of moves by Trump to affix his name to government buildings and institutions. The president has repeatedly promoted his role in international diplomacy and has openly campaigned for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Foote, representing the former institute leadership, expressed confidence that the legal challenges would ultimately succeed. He stated that the rightful owners would prevail and restore the US Institute of Peace to its statutory purposes.
The USIP’s mission has historically focused on conflict resolution and serving as an intermediary among foreign governments, civil society organizations, and U.S. government officials. The institute has operated in conflict zones worldwide, working with national, regional, and community stakeholders.
The legal battle highlights broader tensions between the executive branch and independent federal entities. The administration argues that USIP exercises executive power and therefore falls under presidential authority, while the institute maintains it is an independent creation of Congress.
The appeals court panel that paused the lower-court decision blocking the administration’s actions stated that the president faces irreparable harm from not being able to fully exercise executive powers. The judges indicated the government was likely to succeed in its constitutional claims.
As the legal proceedings continue, the building bearing Trump’s name remains under the control of the General Services Administration. The final resolution of the dispute will determine not only the fate of the building but also the future of the institute itself and its decades-long mission promoting international peace.
