House Democrats sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, requesting detailed information regarding the structure and oversight of the Board of Peace, an organization created by President Trump. Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) questioned whether taxpayer funds are being properly managed and if officials could use the board for private financial gain. The letter signals a potential investigation with subpoena power if Democrats win the House majority in the November midterm elections.
The Board of Peace was established by executive order in October as part of a plan to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. President Trump appointed himself as the board's "chairman for life," a position that grants him unilateral control over its decisions and spending. While the United Nations Security Council endorsed the board until 2027, the administration expanded its mission in January to address global conflicts, soliciting billion-dollar pledges from foreign nations for lifetime memberships.
In July, the State Department halted a scheduled $50 million transfer to the board following pressure from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who noted that the department could not clarify how the funds would be monitored. Raskin and Meeks expressed concern over the board's legal status, arguing that such an organization must be established by a treaty or act of Congress. They also highlighted that the director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, John Squires, previously applied for trademarks on behalf of the board, a move Raskin characterized as "procedural illegitimacy."
The resolution of these questions could impact the legal protections afforded to executive-led international organizations. If the board is recognized as a "public international organization," it would gain immunity from certain federal law enforcement searches and lawsuits. This sets a precedent for how future presidents might establish and fund independent entities without direct congressional authorization. For Palestinians in Gaza, the outcome affects whether the proposed roadmap to disarm Hamas and rebuild neighborhoods proceeds under the current board's management.
What happens next depends on the Sept. 8 deadline for Secretary Rubio to provide answers on board staffing, financial decision-making authority, and bank account management. The broader future of the board may be determined by the November midterm elections, which will decide if Democrats gain the subpoena power necessary to launch a formal investigation. Meanwhile, the Board of Peace continues to push for its Gaza peace proposal, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly shown little interest in the plan as he approaches his own upcoming elections.