USIP Security Officer Blocks Government Efficiency Staff Entry
A recent essay in The Wall Street Journal showcased a security officer’s refusal to let Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) personnel into the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) as a commendable act. On a March 2025 afternoon, when DOGE officials arrived, USIP’s chief security officer, Colin O’Brien, took decisive action by preventing their entry. The WSJ highlighted an excerpt from Michael Lewis’s upcoming book, “Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State,” which appears to cast O’Brien’s actions in a positive light, even featuring him likening himself to the legendary frontiersman Davy Crockett.
The excerpt reveals that when DOGE staff requested to enter, O’Brien quickly instructed his IT team to “shut it down.” He had actually left work early that day to assist his daughter with her math homework, assuming the late Friday afternoon would be quiet. However, he then received a call informing him that the DOGE team was waiting outside, seeking access.
In response, the IT department acted, locking down the building, including engaging the magnetic locks. A couple of hours later, DOGE returned, this time accompanied by two FBI agents. Upon meeting them, O’Brien noted how the trio didn’t bring any kind of warrant or court order, just their attitudes.
In light of this, O’Brien refused to grant them entry. “I knew what I was fighting for. I knew what I was trying to protect,” he said, according to Lewis’ account. He also expressed that he felt he was being asked to embody the D.C. version of Davy Crockett, which he acknowledged wasn’t an exact parallel.
When contacted for a comment, the Wall Street Journal stated it could not provide insight since the piece was an excerpt from a book rather than original journalism. USIP, a taxpayer-funded organization established by Congress in 1984, became the center of controversy following this incident.
Further details from the excerpt indicate that O’Brien was summoned by the Department of Justice but chose not to attend. Concerned that Inter-Com, the security team responsible for government buildings, would comply with DOGE’s demands, he decided to lock them out in the building’s portico. Eventually, D.C. police arrived and escorted him off the premises, with O’Brien noting his surprise at the police seemingly siding with DOGE.
After this conflict, USIP was rebranded as the Donald Trump Institute for Peace, and Nate Cavanaugh, one of the DOGE officials who was initially denied entry, took on the role of president there. This altercation wasn’t the only instance of USIP acting against DOGE; reports surfaced of USIP staff engaging in retaliation through sabotage, including damaging locks and disrupting communication systems.
Michael Lewis, known for his previous works such as “Moneyball” and “The Big Short,” has written extensively and often focuses on intricate narratives that highlight complex real-world scenarios.
