Mark Kelly claims $1.25 billion 'unauthorized' transfer made to Trump's 'Board of Peace'
Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona is challenging the executive branch, claiming the Trump administration moved billions in taxpayer money to his newly formed 'Board of Peace' without Congress's approval. The allegations first came from a Semafor report, which claims that the U.S. Department of State transferred $1.25 billion to President Donald Trump’s 'Board of Peace'. As per the report, the amount was pulled from international disaster assistance ($1 billion), peacekeeping operations ($200 million), and international organizations and programs ($50 million). However, Semafor did not name its source—an official, who it claimed was privy to the funding.
I wrote legislation to divert Trump’s “Board of Peace” slush fund and assist working American families pay their power bills. The President doesn’t need another billion dollars to do who knows what with – it’s time to put Americans first. pic.twitter.com/4Fsq1w5DWR
— Senator Cortez Masto (@SenCortezMasto) April 1, 2026
The alleged transfer happened after the Board of Peace was labeled a "public international organization," which critics say is a way to use the International Organizations Immunities Act to avoid normal federal oversight. In a press release, Kelly announced the Prohibiting Expenditures for an Accountability-Circumventing Entity (PEACE) Act, which aims to freeze these funds and restore congressional control over federal spending. Kelly said that the Board of Peace, created by executive order to manage global stabilization projects like Gaza's reconstruction, should be transparent about steps being taken to maintain peace in the region.
As per Kelly's office, the PEACE Act would stop any federal agency from giving more money to the Board of Peace or its branches, like the Gaza Executive Board, unless Congress passes a new law. The bill also seeks to remove the diplomatic protections and tax-exempt status the President gave the organization. "Trump is taking over a billion taxpayer dollars meant for disaster relief and peacekeeping—things that actually make Americans safer—and using it for his vanity project with no accountability," Kelly said in a statement. "There needs to be a real peace and rebuilding effort in Gaza that works for the civilians who live there and prevents further conflict that threatens our national security."
Congress controls the purse. That's not a suggestion. It's the Constitution.
— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) April 13, 2026
The Trump Administration moved $1.25 billion to his “Board of Peace” with no congressional authorization. I introduced the PEACE Act to put a stop to it.
Since its announcement, critics of the Trump administration have expressed concern that the Board of Peace lacks the transparency required of traditional government agencies. In some critics' view, the organization's leadership is not as transparent as that of regular government agencies. If turned into law, the PEACE Act would mandate the Secretary of State to report within 60 days on how any of the Board's funds have been used. The bill will also direct the Secretary to report to Congress within 60 days on the Board of Peace's progress toward achieving sustainable peace in Gaza.
