On the Demise of the United States Institute of Peace

Another government sponsored agency extending soft power is shut down by DOGE.

Have you heard of the United States Institute of Peace? The USIP is an independent nonprofit organization funded by Congress with the task of promoting conflict resolution and prevention around the world. In late March, the Department for Government Efficiency or DOGE tried to enter the USIP offices in Washington, DC, and on March 29, the employees received word that they had been fired.

So, what is the United States Institute of Peace and what are the consequences of shutting this nonprofit down? In this episode, I talked to Susie Hayward who worked at the USIP from 2007 to 2021. A native of Edina, Minnesota, Susie was a senior advisor for religion and inclusive societies at the U.S. Institute of Peace. There, she worked in active conflict zones around the world and strengthened the religious literacy of peace practitioners and diplomats. She is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and is currently the Transitional Associate Minister for Justice Organizing and Adult Faith Formation at Creekside United Church of Christ in Minneapolis.

This is a part of the federal government that many don’t know about, so I hope you will learn about the work of the United States Institute of Peace, what it means for the wider world, and the role of churches in making this organization come to life and make a difference in the world.