{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-jill-tokuda-and-nikema-williams-lead-colleagues-in-demanding-president-trump-cease-attacks-on-the-us-institute-of-peace", "Reps. Jill Tokuda and Nikema Williams Lead Colleagues in Demanding President Trump Cease Attacks on the U.S. Institute of Peace", "2025-03-26", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02) and Nikema Williams (GA-05) led 20 members of Congress in demanding that President Trump halt his administration\u2019s ongoing attacks on the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), including the unlawful firing of the USIP Board, trespass onto USIP property, and efforts to shut down the independent organization completely.\n\nOn Friday, March 14, 2025, the Trump administration tried to unlawfully fire USIP\u2019s board, even though Congress created USIP to be an independent, nonprofit organization. On Monday, March 17, 2025, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) personnel trespassed onto USIP\u2019s headquarters, aided by federal and local law enforcement officials. Since then, they have prevented USIP personnel from accessing the building, and USIP\u2019s website has since been shut down.\n\n\u201cHawai\u2018i\u2019s own Senator Spark Matsunaga played an integral role in establishing the U.S. Institute of Peace because, as a veteran of the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team, he had seen the horrors of war and was determined to make peace a focal point of our nation\u2019s foreign policy. For decades, the U.S. Institute of Peace has done just that, helping to advance our nation\u2019s understanding of and commitment to peace in the world,\u201d stated Rep. Jill Tokuda. \u201cTo have this place of peace violated by President Trump and Elon Musk as they weaponized federal law enforcement to target USIP over the will of Congress is an insult to every American who has fought and died for our freedoms. We cannot allow them to shut down this storied institution and to continue this reckless ransacking of public and private organizations.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe U.S. Institute of Peace demonstrates our nation\u2019s commitment to investing in those most marginalized,\u201d stated Rep. Nikema Williams. \u201cWithout peace, people cannot thrive\u2014personally, economically, or as a society. The Trump Administration\u2019s takeover of USIP is illegal, defies Congressional intent, and has inflicted irreparable harm on our national security and vulnerable communities worldwide.\u201d\n\n\u201cInstead of adhering to Congress\u2019s intent and the law, your administration has launched an unprecedented and unlawful assault on USIP,\u201d wrote the lawmakers to President Trump. \u201c[\u2026] we demand that you cease your administration\u2019s unlawful actions against USIP by respecting the authority of the duly appointed USIP Board members and recognize USIP\u2019s status as an independent, nonprofit organized established by Congress. [\u2026] We believe that USIP has played and can continue to play a crucial role in our nation\u2019s and your foreign policy.\u201d\n\nOther co-signers of the letter are Representatives Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ed Case (HI-02), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Betty McCollum (MN-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mark Takano (CA-39), Dina Titus (NV-01), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), and Maxine Waters (CA-43).\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-jill-tokuda-and-nikema-williams-lead-colleagues-in-demanding-president-trump-cease-attacks-on-the-us-institute-of-peace"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9669330902397633, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}