White smoke from Sistine Chapel signals election of new pope: ABC News Special Report

A judge ruled against President Donald Trump's administration in a decision Monday over the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), Politico legal reporter Kyle Cheney posted on X.

The USIP's goals are to promote conflict resolution and peacebuilding globally through a congressionally funded, independent, non-profit organization, its website says. Judge Beryl Howell said that having the executive branch take it over is not legal and "should be treated as null and void," said Cheney.

Trump established DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, through an executive order upon entering office on Jan. 20. The goal was to make significant budget cuts to reach $2 trillion in savings by eliminating "waste, fraud and abuse," as tech billionaire Elon Musk described in a March Fox News interview.

ALSO READ: 'I would not be happy': GOP senator wants DOGE to back off as agencies heads confirmed

Among those cuts was the USIP — which is actually under the purview of Congress, not the president.

Judge Howell's ruling reads: "As an independent entity exercising inconsequential government power and de minimis, if any, executive power, Congress’s ability to restrict the President’s removal power is even greater than that outlined in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, 295 U.S. 602 (1935), Seila Law v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 591 U.S. 197 (2020), and the Supreme Court’s other seminal presidential removal power cases. Applying those cases, Congress’s restrictions on the President’s removal power of USIP Board members are squarely constitutional, and the President and his Administration’s acts to the contrary are unlawful and ultra vires."

"The actions that have occurred since then—at the direction of the President to reduce USIP to its 'statutory minimums'—including the removal of USIP’s president, his replacement by officials affiliated with DOGE, the termination of nearly all of USIP’s staff, and the transfer of USIP property to the General Services Administration ('GSA'), were thus effectuated by illegitimately-installed leaders who lacked legal authority to take these actions, which must therefore be declared null and void.

Read the full court ruling here.

Rockstar Neil Young joined the list of celebrities attacking President Donald Trump publicly.

The Hollywood Reporter wrote Tuesday that the singer-songwriter came to the defense of Bruce Springsteen, who bashed Trump at two concerts in the UK over the past week.

“Bruce and thousands of musicians think you are ruining America," Young said in a message to Trump on his website late Monday. "You worry about that instead of the dyin’ kids in Gaza? That’s your problem. I am not scared of you. Neither are the rest of us. You shut down FEMA when we needed it most. That’s your problem Trump? STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT ROCKERS ARE SAYING. Think about saving America from the mess you made."

Springsteen attacked the Trump administration last Friday, saying that the United States is "currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration."

ALSO READ: ‘I'm a no’: Rebel House Republicans unswayed by Trump coercion

In response, Trump took to Truth Social, calling "The Boss" a “dried out prune of a rocker." He then told Springsteen that he “ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that’s just ‘standard fare’. Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!”

"Remember what the White House is? 86/47???" Young asked, a reference to former FBI Director James Comey, who posted a photo of shells on the beach spelling out 86 47 — considered by many Trump allies to be a threat.

"That’s what you think about. You are forgetting your real job. You work for us. Wake up Republicans!" Young continued, according to the report. "This guy is out of control. We need a real president!”

Springsteen isn't the only musician Trump attacked, however. In another Truth Social post, Trump commented that Taylor Swift was no longer "HOT."

Young continued, “Taylor Swift is right. So is Bruce. You know how I feel. You are more worried about yourself than AMERICA. Wake up Trump!! Remember what the White House is?”

The report said that Young also posted a different comment, thanking Springsteen and sharing the video.

“As a Canadian-American dual citizen, I stand with the great majority, thanking you for speaking so eloquently and truthfully on behalf of the American people,” Young said. “We are with you my old friend. Your great songs of America ring true as you sing them to Europe and the world!”

Read the report here.