Case Information
*1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE, et al. ,
Plaintiffs, Civil Action No. 25-cv-804 (BAH) v. Judge Beryl A. Howell
KENNETH JACKSON, in his official capacity , et al. ,
Defendants. ORDER
Upon consideration of plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, ECF No. 22, defendants’ cross motion for summary judgment, ECF No. 32, the legal memoranda, exhibits and declarations submitted in support and in opposition, and the entire record herein, for the reasons set forth in the accompanying Memorandum Opinion, it is hereby—
ORDERED that plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, ECF No. 22, is GRANTED ; it is further ORDERED that defendants’ cross-motion for summary judgment, ECF No. 32, is DENIED ; it is further ORDERED that plaintiffs are granted judgment in their favor on Counts One, Two, Three, Four, and Six of the Amended Complaint, ECF No. 12; it is further DECLARED that the purported removal of members of the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace (“USIP”) duly appointed under 22 U.S.C. § 4605(b)(4), was unlawful, in violation of 22 U.S.C. § 4605(f), ultra vires , and therefore null, void, and without legal effect; it is further *2 that plaintiff Board members who were purportedly terminated remain members of the USIP Board and may be removed by the United States President only pursuant to the terms of 22 U.S.C. § 4605(f); it is further
DECLARED that the purported removal of Ambassador George Moose as acting president of the Institute by a resolution adopted by less than a majority of the duly appointed Board of Directors of USIP was invalid, and therefore null, void, and without legal effect; it is further
DECLARED that the purported appointments of Kenneth Jackson and Nate Cavanaugh to the positions of president of USIP pursuant to resolutions adopted by less than a majority of the duly appointed Board of Directors of USIP were invalid and therefore null, void, and without legal effect; it is further
DECLARED that Amb. Moose therefore remains president of USIP and may be removed only by a duly constituted Board of Directors, under 22 U.S.C. § 4606; it is further DECLARED that all actions taken or authorized by Kenneth Jackson or Nate Cavanaugh as acting presidents of USIP were invalid and therefore null, void, and without legal effect; it is further
DECLARED that, given the illegitimate appointment of Nate Cavanaugh to the position as USIP president, the actions and documents by which he purportedly transferred USIP’s headquarters, located at 2301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037, to the General Services Administration were invalid and therefore null, void, and without legal effect; it is further
DECLARED that the transfer of USIP’s other financial or physical assets to the General Services Administration was likewise invalid, null void, and without legal effect; it is further *3 that the resolution adopted by two ex officio Directors of USIP’s Board purportedly appointing Adam Amar as president of the Endowment of the USIP Fund and authorizing and instructing him to transfer any and all of the Endowment’s assets to USIP was invalid, null, void, and without any legal effect; it is further
ORDERED that plaintiff Board members duly appointed under 22 U.S.C. § 2605(b)(4) shall continue to serve in accordance with § 4605(e) and may not be removed or treated in any way as having been removed, or otherwise obstructed from carrying out their duties, except in accordance with § 4605(f); it is further
ORDERED that USIP Acting President Amb. Moose shall continue to serve in accordance with § 4606(a) and may not be removed or treated in any way as having been removed, or otherwise obstructed from carrying out his duties, except in accordance with §§ 4601-11; it is further
ORDERED that defendants, except for the ex officio members of USIP’s Board of Directors to the extent their official positions allow, are ENJOINED from further trespass against the real and personal property belonging to the Institute and its employees, contractors, agents, and other representatives; it is further
ORDERED that defendants, except for the ex officio members of USIP’s Board of Directors to the extent their official positions allow, are ENJOINED from maintaining, retaining, gaining, or exercising any access or control over the Institute’s offices, facilities, computer systems, or any other records, files, or resources, and from acting or purporting to act in the name of Institute, and from using the Institute’s name, emblem, badge, seal and any other mark of recognition of the Institute; it is further
*4 ORDERED that the defendants who are ex officio members of USIP’s Board of Directors may not act unilaterally or in any combination of the three of them together, without additional consent constituting a majority of members of the duly constituted USIP Board of Directors, to transfer any of USIP’s assets; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court is directed to close this case. SO ORDERED . Date: May 19, 2025 This is a final and appealable order.
__________________________
BERYL A. HOWELL
United States District Judge