DOGE left United States Institute of Peace office with water damage, rats, and roaches | TechCrunch
May 30, 2025 - techcrunch.com
The chief executive of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), George Moose, has accused Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) of leaving the nonprofit's headquarters in Washington, D.C., in disarray, with issues such as water damage, rats, and roaches. This follows a federal judge's ruling that DOGE's takeover of USIP was illegal. Despite Musk's claim of stepping away from DOGE, he and President Trump have indicated that he will continue to advise the administration. The takeover began in mid-March after a standoff, during which DOGE staff allegedly broke into the USIP headquarters, which is not part of the executive branch.
Moose initially reported the headquarters to be in decent condition, but a subsequent survey revealed significant problems, including vermin and water damage, which were not present before DOGE's involvement. The building had been abandoned for weeks before USIP regained control, and Moose criticized DOGE for failing to maintain and secure the premises. USIP has since hired a private security firm and taken over maintenance responsibilities.
Key takeaways:
The USIP headquarters were left in disarray with water damage, rats, and roaches after DOGE's takeover.
A federal judge ruled that DOGE's takeover of USIP was illegal.
Elon Musk claims he is stepping away from DOGE but will continue to advise the administration.
USIP has hired a private security firm and taken over building maintenance after regaining control.
