A federal judge on Wednesday declined to temporarily block the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), after the organization said its power was seized without lawful authority.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell expressed alarm about the manner in which DOGE accessed the building but said the now-fired board members likely don’t have authority to sue in their official capacity, calling some aspects of the lawsuit “a stretch.”

Howell declined to bar DOGE from accessing USIP’s facilities and systems, acting in USIP’s name or declare void the apparent removal of its board.

She also declined to forbid further trespass against the independent institute, after it said in court filings DOGE conducted a “literal trespass and takeover by force.”

“I am very offended by how DOGE has operated at the institute and treated American citizens trying to do a job that they were statutorily tasked to do at the institute,” Howell said. “But that concern about how this has gone down is not one that can sway me in my consideration of the factors for a [temporary restraining order], which is an emergency relief that is extraordinary.”

USIP stressed its status differs from other agencies infiltrated by DOGE, as it is an independent........

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