PROTECTING THE ROLE OF CONGRESS
United States Institute for Peace v. Jackson
A bipartisan coalition of current and former members of Congress asked a federal court to halt the Trump administration’s unconstitutional destruction of the United States Institute for Peace.
THE IMPACT
President Trump’s attempt to dismantle a congressionally created nonpartisan institution violates the fundamental principle of separation of powers. If left unchallenged, this executive power grab would upset the balance of government and sideline the role of Congress that the Constitution guarantees.
THE BRIEF
In 1984, Congress created the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) – an independent, nonprofit resource for its members to gain access to conflict-resolution expertise, research, and training.
Despite 40 years of USIP serving as a trusted congressional resource, in February 2025 the Trump administration declared USIP “unnecessary,” ordered that it be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law,” removed its appointed board members, transferred its assets to DOGE, and fired nearly all its employees.
On behalf of a bipartisan coalition of current and former members of Congress, including representatives who voted to establish USIP in 1984, we asked a federal court to stop the destruction of USIP.
“The President’s effort to eliminate USIP without Congressional approval is contrary to the basic principles of our system of government, and the Court should decline to endorse it,” we argue in the brief.
THE TEAM
The current and former members of Congress are represented pro bono by Free + Fair and Democracy Defenders Fund.
CASE DOCUMENTS
THE CONGRESS MEMBERS
- Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire
- Jeffrey Merkley, U.S. Senator from Oregon
- Brian Schatz, U.S. Senator from Hawaii
- Gregory W. Meeks, Representative of New York
- Lois Frankel, Representative of Florida
- Gabe Amo, Representative of Rhode Island
- Jonathan Jackson, Representative of Illinois
- Sara Jacobs, Representative of California
- Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Representative of California
- William Keating, Representative of Massachusetts
- Bradley S. Schneider, Representative of Illinois
- Dina Titus, Representative of Nevada
Former Members of Congress
- Steve Bartlett, Representative of Texas, 1983-1991
- Tom Coleman, Representative of Missouri, 1976-1993
- Marvin Henry “Mickey” Edwards, Representative of Oklahoma, 1977-1993
- Claudine Schneider, Representative of Rhode Island, 1981-1991
- Christopher Shays, Representative of Connecticut, 1987-2009
