Employees at the Wilson Center, a renowned nonpartisan foreign policy think tank in Washington, were largely placed on leave and barred from accessing their work email accounts on Thursday. This rapid shutdown was part of Elon Musk’s efforts to close down most operations at the center.

In total, approximately 130 employees received instructions not to return to the office after the end of the day, as confirmed by an email reviewed by The New York Times and individuals with direct knowledge of the actions.

While on leave, the Wilson Center employees will receive their regular pay, but they will eventually be fired, aligning with similar actions taken at other institutions targeted by Musk’s team in recent weeks.

Only a small group of employees will remain at the Wilson Center—specifically, the president, two federal employees, and two researchers on fellowships—as mandated by the center’s congressional charter. These cuts are consistent with an executive order signed by President Trump in March.

Private donations to the Wilson Center will be returned to the donors, but the fate of the center’s endowment remains unclear. On Thursday, numerous employees were seen carrying personal belongings out of the center’s offices in the Ronald Reagan Building, which is home to various government agency offices.

The Wilson Center’s charter requires that its office space remain part of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial. On Monday, four members of the Musk team entered the center’s offices and began taking control of its systems. The following day, Mark Green, the center’s president, resigned.

In the weeks leading up to these events, the Trump White House had dismissed the center’s board members, and Mr. Green was informed that he would be fired if he did not resign.

Musk’s team has been responsible for closing down several other institutions in Washington, including the United States Agency for International Development. These institutions have received federal funding but have conducted independent research for decades, providing nonideological expert assessments to policymakers, lawmakers, and individuals outside of the government.

The Wilson Center, established in 1968 as a tribute to former President Woodrow Wilson, derives about 30% of its funding from Congress, while the rest comes from private donations. The center has been led by former officials from both Democratic and Republican backgrounds, with Mark Green having previously served as the head of U.S.A.I.D. in the Trump administration.

The center has served as a hub for scholars in various areas of foreign policy and houses valuable resources such as the personal library of George F. Kennan, a diplomat and policymaker known for his expertise in studying the Soviet Union. Online posts by the director of the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute, Michael Kimmage, highlighted the significance of these resources and expressed concern about their future.

Additionally, the Wilson Center houses historical records from Woodrow Wilson’s campaign and presidency, as well as extensive digital archives. Researchers from around the world have utilized these resources, particularly valuing the center’s Cold War era documents. The center also supports numerous fellows through various programs, including those whose work is endangered in their home countries. Two fellows are currently at the Wilson Center through a program for threatened scholars, and journalists from The New York Times have also received fellowships.

According to a Trump administration official, Natasha Jacome, a senior adviser to Mr. Green, has been appointed as the Wilson Center’s new president.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/us/politics/wilson-center-shutdown-musk.html