Federal Appeals Court Temporarily Blocks Trump Name From Being Carved Into US Institute of Peace Building

A US federal appeals court has temporarily blocked plans to carve President Donald Trump's name into the building of the US Institute of Peace in Washington, according to a report from The Hill. The ruling came from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which is currently hearing a lawsuit brought by former institute board members over the organization's transfer under the control of the presidential administration. A Temporary Ban Without Explanation The court issued a brief, one-sentence order without detailing its reasoning. The ban will remain in place until a final ruling is issued in the case, with oral arguments scheduled for November. Trump's name has already been placed on exterior signage near the institute's Washington headquarters. Former board members went to court last month after raising concerns that his name could be permanently engraved into the building's facade. The former board members argued that the building represents a distinct architectural work conveying a specific message, and their legal team stated in court filings that altering the structure's design to impose a different message could result in irreparable harm. Background on the Control Dispute The underlying lawsuit stems from Trump's removal of the institute's board members in early 2025, prompting them to file suit that March. A trial court previously ruled that their dismissals lacked legal basis and that the transfer of the institute under administration control was not properly authorized. However, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals stayed that ruling while the broader case proceeds, allowing the administration to maintain control of the institution in the meantime. The appeals court is also weighing how a recent US Supreme Court ruling on protections for officials at independent agencies against dismissal might affect the case. The Department of Justice has cited that Supreme Court decision in arguing that the court should reject the former board members' request. The Justice Department's Position on the Engraving In court filings submitted Monday, the Justice Department said the State Department had only conducted preliminary research into the potential engraving, including contacting contractors and obtaining cost estimates. The department stated that no contractor has been selected for the work and that there are currently no plans to carve Trump's name into the building or its retaining wall.