Breaking: Wilson Center Workers Unfairly Put on Leave Amidst Trump’s Controversial Shutdown Push
In a sweeping move that has left the Wilson Center, a distinguished nonpartisan foreign policy think tank in Washington, in disarray, nearly all employees were placed on leave, with restricted access to their work emails. This decision stems from a task force led by Elon Musk, which acted swiftly to dismantle most of the center’s operations. According to sources and an email reviewed by The New York Times, approximately 130 employees were instructed not to return to the office after this week. Though they remain on the payroll temporarily, these employees are expected to be terminated imminently, reflecting patterns seen at other institutions facing similar restructuring by Musk’s team.
While most of the workforce is affected, five employees will stay on, as their roles—comprising a president, two federal employees, and two researchers on fellowships—are protected under the center’s congressional charter. These drastic staff reductions are in line with an executive order signed by former President Trump in March. A source, requesting anonymity to avoid repercussions, revealed that private donations to the center would be returned to donors, leaving the fate of its endowment uncertain.
Efforts to clear the office space were visible on Thursday afternoon, as a stream of employees carried personal and work-related items from the center’s location in the Ronald Reagan Building, a property shared with several government agencies. The mood was somber, with some staff visibly emotional, underscoring the center’s abrupt closure.
The center’s future function remains unclear, although its congressional charter dictates that the space is part of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial. Earlier in the week, four members of Musk’s team entered the facility to initiate control over its systems. Coinciding with these developments, the center’s president, Mark Green, resigned after pressure from the Trump administration, which removed board members in recent weeks. Green was reportedly given an ultimatum to resign or face termination, as confirmed by an unnamed source. Despite requests for comments, the White House has opted to remain silent.
Elon Musk’s government overhaul team has similarly impacted other federal entities, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). These interventions typically target centers reliant on federal funding but valued for their independent research contributions that aid policymakers and the wider public.
Founded in 1968 to honor President Woodrow Wilson, the Wilson Center has long served as a nexus for foreign policy scholars, receiving 30% of its funding from Congress and the remainder from private donations. Before Mark Green’s leadership starting in 2021, following his role as the head of USAID during Trump’s first term, the center was led by former Democratic Congresswoman Jane Harman.
The academic community has especially cherished the center for its archives, including the library of renowned diplomat George F. Kennan. Michael Kimmage, director of the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute, poignantly tweeted that the archive is akin to the library of ancient Alexandria, which succumbed to external forces, echoing the center’s current predicament.
As for the scholars, those in fellowships will be paid through their program’s end, though foreign participants expect visa cancelations, particularly affecting those in programs designed for academics in jeopardy in their home nations. Typically, fellows include academic researchers and journalists, some affiliated with The New York Times. Amidst these changes, a Trump administration official has announced Natasha Jacome as the new president, succeeding Mark Green.
Original Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/us/politics/wilson-center-shutdown-musk.html
Category : Federal Aid (US),Shutdowns (Institutional),Executive Orders and Memorandums,Scholarships and Fellowships,Green, Mark J,Musk, Elon,Trump, Donald J,Wilson, Woodrow, Center,Wilson, Woodrow,United States Politics and Government
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Publish Date: 2025-04-04 05:35:00
