A Washington, D.C., federal judge appointed by former President Barack Obama has issued an opinion against President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency shutting down the Institute of Peace.

“The Constitution makes clear that the president’s constitutional authority only extends as far as Article II, but even Article II does not grant him absolute removal authority over his subordinates, under current binding caselaw precedent,” U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell wrote in her opinion Monday.

“Outside of Article II, he has little constitutional authority to act at all. The president’s efforts here to take over an organization outside of those bounds, contrary to statute established by Congress and by acts of force and threat using local and federal law enforcement officers, represented a gross usurpation of power and a way of conducting government affairs that unnecessarily traumatized the committed leadership and employees of USIP, who deserved better.”

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