Setting the Record Straight about the U.S. Institute of Peace

USIP EMPLOYS SECURITY AUTHORIZED TO CARRY SIDEARMS

Like dozens of other private and public organizations, USIP hired Special Police Officers for security at the USIP Building. These officers are trained and certified to carry sidearms in accordance with Metropolitan Police Department regulations. The officers are not authorized to transport their weapons between their residence and work, so the guns of off-duty officers are kept in a locked gun safe in a controlled part of the building. Refer to DC Municipal Regulations Title 6, Chapter 6-A1103.3.

No USIP staff in the building on March 17 were carrying a firearm.

USIP DOES NOT USE PRIVATE JETS

USIP contracted for an emergency charter flight in August 2021 to evacuate some 200 staff and partners from Afghanistan. This was urgent and necessary because, like personnel of many other international organizations and NGOs, our staff and partners were at grave risk from the Taliban for having carried out work for a U.S.-based nonprofit organization.

No taxpayer money was used to cover the cost of this emergency charter flight.

USIP DOES NOT FUND THE TALIBAN

USIP contracted with an internationally respected former member of Afghan governments that were supported by the United States. He had renounced the Taliban 20 years before. His work for USIP was focused on supporting women’s rights and rebutting the Taliban's extreme interpretations of Sharia.

USIP does not fund the Taliban or buy weapons or drugs.

USIP FOLLOWS INDUSTRY STANDARD DATA MANAGEMENT PRACTICE

USIP follows industry standard data retention protocols in maintaining, backing up, and deleting data. USIP’s data management practices are audited and approved annually by KPMG.

USIP did not delete data to hide it from DOGE.

THE USIP ENDOWMENT WAS AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS TO HOLD USIP APPROPRIATIONS

In the USIP Act, Congress authorized USIP to transfer appropriated funds to the Endowment of the U.S. Institute of Peace. All funds are held and used strictly for USIP purposes. The Endowment is a Section 501(c)(3) organization that files a tax return every year, is audited by KPMG, and is subject to oversight by House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the USIP Board of Directors.

USIP has been successfully audited each year since its inception by an independent audit firm.