In brief
The executive order signed by President Trump leads to significant reductions at the Wilson Center, affecting nearly all staff and reshaping its operations.
In a rapid move following an executive order from President Trump, approximately 130 employees of the Wilson Center, a respected nonpartisan foreign policy think tank, were placed on leave Thursday. This transition occurred just days after a task force associated with Elon Musk's team commenced their operations within the center. According to reports, only five employees will remain employed, consisting of a president, two federal staffers, and two research fellows, as mandated by the center's congressional charter. The mass layoffs and leave orders stem from a significant executive directive signed by President Trump in March, aiming to restructure the center's functions.Employees, now barred from accessing work email accounts, were instructed to vacate the premises and will continue receiving pay during their leave, though permanent termination is expected soon—matching a pattern seen in recent actions taken against various institutions influenced by Musk’s operations.As many staff members departed the Ronald Reagan Building, home to numerous government agencies, they carried personal belongings, leaving the center virtually empty. Furthermore, the plan includes returning private donations to their original donors, with uncertainties lingering regarding the future of the center's endowment.
