Emergency Motion Filed to Prevent Trump from Inscribing Name on U.S. Institute of Peace Building

<figure><img alt="Donald Trump" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/YXCMUVPA7JFC3P5U2BP53FRGEU.jpg?auth=f3370d97ead5b44f37e7ae506ffbbe7d3be775b6668524637f7af8b8dcd53565&amp;smart=true&amp;width=4953&amp;height=2786" /><figcaption>Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption></figure><p>An emergency motion has been filed to block Donald Trump from inscribing his name on the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) building, which is privately owned. The legal dispute has been ongoing for over a year, involving members of the board who were removed by Trump as he attempted to take control of the institute.</p><p>In December, Trump renamed the USIP, established by Congress as a nonpartisan nonprofit aimed at promoting democracy, to the “Donald J. United States Institute of Peace” and added his name to the building's headquarters. Currently, his name is displayed in removable letters bolted onto the façade.</p><p>According to the emergency motion, the administration plans to carve Trump's name into the building despite the ongoing litigation. The motion argues that the building, funded largely by private donations, is a significant work of architecture that represents USIP's independent mission, and altering its design would cause irreparable harm.</p><p>A contractor has been selected, and a formal request for the work to commence has been submitted. The administration's efforts to dismantle the nonprofit began in February 2025, linked to Elon Musk’s initiative aimed at reducing federal government size.</p><p>A federal judge ruled in May 2025 that the administration's actions were unlawful, reinstating the ousted board members. However, the appellate court later stayed this ruling while the appeals process continues.</p><p>The emergency motion highlights that the legal proceedings have extended nearly a year beyond the original schedule due to the stay, requesting the court to maintain the current status until the litigation is resolved. It also references Trump's attempts to attach his name to the Kennedy Center, which has been ruled by federal courts to be a memorial solely for President John F. Kennedy Jr.</p><p>The motion concludes that the administration would not suffer harm if prevented from carving Trump's name into the USIP building until the litigation is resolved in their favor. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comments.</p>