Elon Musk criticized the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) by emphasizing the conflict between unelected bureaucrats and federal law enforcement over access to their $500 million office in Washington, D.C. He also highlighted the significant fraud uncovered by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) within the controversial institute, which involved payments to both Iran and the Taliban.
To provide context, DOGE initiated a forceful takeover of USIP, resulting in the termination of over 300 employees and the announcement of plans to transfer the institute’s $500 million headquarters to the Government Services Administration (GSA). Although former USIP officials have filed lawsuits against DOGE for these actions, a federal judge has refused to halt the takeover.
On March 30, 2025, an account shared a summary of the USIP situation, stating, “DOGE: The DOGE team fought for days to gain access to the United States Institute of Peace. Ultimately, with assistance from the FBI and Metro Police, DOGE was able to enter the agency and uncovered extensive fraud, waste, and abuse, including payments to the Taliban and Iraq.”
In response to this post, Elon Musk provided further insight into the matter, remarking, “Any government institution is most likely to be the opposite of its name.” He continued, “They deleted a terabyte of financial data to conceal their crimes, but they lack technological understanding, so we managed to recover it 🙄.” In the comments following Musk’s response, many conservatives expressed their support for him and defended DOGE. One comment stated, “Elon, I know there are challenges affecting your Tesla brand, but rest assured, you are doing something very commendable with DOGE. Most people stand behind you and truly appreciate the efforts you and your team are making.”Expanding on this topic, some users concurred with Musk’s assertion that fraudsters frequently adopt benign names to conceal their wrongdoings. One response stated, “Just as the Inflation Reduction Act failed to lower inflation, or how reproductive freedom is framed as ending reproduction. It’s all a facade.” Another user commented, “This applies to any government regulation or legislation, like the ‘Affordable Care Act.’ It’s consistently the same. The government operates primarily as a jobs program. The true aim of such legislation is merely to allocate funds. Consequently, nothing substantial is achieved. The intention is not for progress; as long as the money is spent, it is deemed a ‘success.’”
Additionally, some users voiced their concerns regarding bureaucrats’ attempts to obscure information from DOGE. One of the responses noted, “When the government conceals its expenditures in this manner, it indicates they are aware of their wrongdoing. A significant majority of taxpayers are outraged by this misuse of our funds. It’s spiraling out of control. Will the media address this issue for the public? Absolutely not.” In a more extensive reply, a user highlighted the necessity for increased transparency, stating, “If the United States Institute of Peace is financing the Taliban and foreign leaders, we require complete transparency. $132K here, $1.3M there—how extensive is this? Deleting a terabyte of financial records is not merely suspicious; it signifies an acknowledgment of guilt.”
Furthermore, the same comment posed several critical questions, stating, “If Musk’s team has retrieved the data, then release the files. Let the evidence speak for itself. Government entities playing both sides is not a new phenomenon, but the cover-up? That’s the true scandal. Where is the accountability? Who is accountable? We deserve to know.”
Observe Elon as he confronts the deep state: