US court bars carving Trump’s name on Institute of Peace building — The Hill

A US federal appeals court has temporarily barred the carving of President Donald Trump’s name on the building of the US Institute of Peace in Washington. The decision was made by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which is hearing a lawsuit by former members of the institute’s board over the institution’s transfer under the control of the presidential administration. The Hill reports.

Temporary ban

The court issued a one-sentence order without explaining its reasoning. The ban will remain in effect until a final ruling in the case, while oral arguments are scheduled for November.

Trump’s name has already been placed on exterior signs near the institute’s headquarters in the US capital. Last month, former board members went to court over concerns that the president’s name could be permanently carved into the building’s facade.

Former board members described the building as an architectural work that conveys a particular message. Their lawyers stated in court filings that changing the design to impose a different message could cause irreparable harm.

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Dispute over control

Former board members filed a lawsuit in March 2025 after Trump removed them from their positions. The trial court concluded that the dismissals had no legal basis and that the transfer of the institute under the administration’s control was not authorized. At the same time, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit stayed that ruling while the case is being considered, allowing the administration to continue controlling the institution.

The appeals court is also assessing the impact of a US Supreme Court ruling on protections for officials of independent agencies against dismissal. The US Department of Justice cited that ruling in urging the court to reject the former board members’ motion.

Justice Department’s position

The Justice Department said that the State Department had only conducted preliminary market research: it contacted contractors and obtained cost estimates for the work. In court filings submitted on Monday, the department said that it had not selected a contractor for the engraving and currently does not plan to carve the name on the building or retaining wall.