Controversial Appointment of Darren Beattie as President of U.S. Institute of Peace Sparks Legal and Political Turmoil
Trump administration official dismissal leads to appointment as president of embattled U.S. Institute of Peace during his tenure.
In a move that has caused significant controversy, Darren Beattie, a former White House speechwriter who was fired in 2018 for speaking at a conference attended by white nationalists, was appointed as the president of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) in February 2025.
This appointment came amidst a tumultuous period for the USIP, an independent nonprofit organisation that focuses on international peace and conflict resolution, and was created in 1984. The appointment sparked alarm among some Democratic members of Congress who expressed concerns to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a board member of USIP.
The timeline and legal context of Beattie's appointment and the related institutional upheaval at USIP include:
- February 2025: Beattie was appointed to a senior diplomatic role at the State Department and named president of USIP by its board of directors. This came shortly after the Trump administration issued an executive order drastically cutting most USIP staff as part of broader efforts to reform federal diplomacy tools and agencies.
- February–March 2025: The Trump administration's moves also weakened the U.S. Agency for International Development. Democratic lawmakers formally raised alarm about Beattie's appointment and his white nationalist associations to Secretary Rubio.
- March 2025: Elon Musk's "DOGE" initiative forcibly took over USIP headquarters with police and FBI involvement, ejecting staff. Subsequent lawsuits by staff led to a federal judge temporarily blocking the administration’s attempts to dismantle the institute in May.
- June 2025: A federal appeals court restored control of the USIP building to the Trump administration as legal proceedings continued.
Beattie has a history of controversial statements, including praise for mass sterilization and characterizing the January 6 Capitol riot as a federal conspiracy. These controversies have fueled legal and political challenges surrounding his leadership at USIP.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied the USIP's request for a hearing of the full court to lift the stay of a three-judge panel in June. The employees were rehired, although many did not return to work due to the complexity of restarting operations.
George Foote, former counsel for the institute, stated that Beattie's appointment as acting president "flies in the face of the values at the core of USIP's work and America's commitment to working respectfully with international partners" and also called it "illegal under Judge Howell's May 19 decision."
The USIP, funded by Congress to promote peace and prevent and end conflicts globally, remains embroiled in turmoil. The situation remains dynamically unfolding in 2025.
Key points:
| Date | Event | |----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 2018 | Beattie fired from White House for speaking at white nationalist conference | | Feb 2025 | Appointed President of USIP and senior State Dept official | | Feb–Mar 2025 | Trump administration cuts USIP staff and triggers controversies| | Mar 2025 | Congressional concerns raised to Secretary Rubio | | Mar–May 2025 | Musk-backed takeover of USIP HQ; staff lawsuit; court blocks dismantling | | Jun 2025 | Appeals court restores Trump administration control |
- The controversial appointment of Darren Beattie, a former White House speechwriter known for his white nationalist associations, as the president of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) in February 2025 has caused alarm among some Democratic members of Congress.
- George Foote, former counsel for the USIP, asserted that Beattie's appointment as acting president "flies in the face of the values at the core of USIP's work and America's commitment to working respectfully with international partners."
- The controversies surrounding Beattie's leadership at USIP have led to legal and political challenges, including a federal judge temporarily blocking the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the institute in May.
- In Seattle, debates over the expansion of casino-and-gambling in the city's politics have resurfaced, as some local officials argue that funds raised could aid in education reform while others raise concerns about crime-and-justice implications.
- General news reports in 2025 continue to track the political, legal, and institutional upheaval surrounding the USIP, particularly its involvement in war-and-conflicts resolution and policy-and-legislation pertaining to international peace.
