In brief
A significant blow to the Wilson Center's operations as about 130 employees are affected while five remain under new directives on foreign policy.
April 3, 2025, 8:32 p.m. ET - In an unexpected move, President Trump's latest executive order has led to the shutdown of the Wilson Center, a key nonpartisan think tank focused on foreign policy in Washington. Approximately 130 employees were informed Thursday that they would be placed on leave and restricted from accessing their work email accounts as a task force led by Elon Musk moved swiftly to carry out the president’s orders.The directive will allow only five employees to maintain their positions — the president, two federal staff members, and two fellows — as mandated by the center’s congressional charter. Employees who have been put on leave will continue to receive pay, but indications suggest that widespread layoffs will follow, a pattern observed in other institutions affected by similar shutdowns in recent weeks.In light of the changes, private donations to the center will reportedly be returned to the donors, according to a source familiar with the situation. The fate of the center's endowment remains uncertain at this time.As news broke, dozens of employees were seen packing their belongings, including paperwork, plants, and personal items, as they prepared to exit the Ronald Reagan Building, the center’s office. The swift disbanding of the Wilson Center marks a significant shift in the landscape of U.S. foreign policy thinking and research, as crucial staff members are forced out amid dramatic policy changes in Washington.
