In brief
On April 3, 2025, the Wilson Center, a well-known foreign policy think tank in Washington, is forced to place nearly all of its 130 employees on leave following President Trump's directive to shut down the center. In a swift move led by a task force from Elon Musk's team, the majority of its personnel are locked out of their work email, marking an abrupt end to operations at the center.
According to an email obtained by The New York Times, the employees were given instructions not to return after the day's end, while only five positions remain intact: one president, two federal employees, and two fellows, mandated by the center's congressional charter. The layoffs, which align with the recent executive order that Trump signed in March, have already seen several other institutions face similar fates. Notably, any private donations to the Wilson Center are set to be returned to the original donors as confirmed by an insider. The plans for the center's endowment remain unclear amidst this upheaval. As word spread, a number of employees were seen removing personal belongings from their offices, including plants and documents, as they prepared for the shutdown. This latest development showcases the merging of corporate directives into government-funded institutions, raising concerns about the future of independent think tanks.
