February 19, 2026
Trump convenes Board of Peace, pledges $10 billion
Trump creates parallel institution to UN with no congressional funding authority
🌍Foreign Policy🏛️Government🔐Ethics📋Public Policy
President Trump convened the Board of Peace inaugural meeting on February 19, 2026, at the U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters in Washington, D.C. — a building that now bears his name after he seized it from its independent nonprofit leadership earlier this year. Representatives from more than 40 countries attended, with a dozen more as observers.
Trump pledged $10 billion from the United States toward the board's operations, but provided no explanation of where the money would come from, how it would be spent, or whether he had congressional authority to commit it. The Appropriations Clause of the Constitution requires Congress to authorize any federal spending.
Nine Gulf and Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait — pledged a combined $7 billion for Gaza reconstruction. The UN estimates total reconstruction of Gaza will cost $70 billion and take years. The pledged amounts represent about 24% of what is needed.
Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania committed troops to an International Stabilization Force (ISF) led by U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers, with Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto accepting the deputy commander role. The force aims to eventually deploy 20,000 soldiers in five brigades across different parts of Gaza, starting in Rafah.
The board's charter names Trump as 'chairman for life' — a title independent of his presidency — and grants him exclusive authority to invite countries, modify the charter, dissolve subsidiary bodies, veto decisions, and nominate his own successor. Countries seeking permanent voting membership must pay a $1 billion fee; others rotate on three-year terms.
The charter contains no mention of Palestine, Palestinians, the right of return, or Palestinian self-determination, according to an analysis by journalist Sharif Abdel Kouddous of Drop Site News. The Palestinian technocratic government, led by Ali Shaath, sits on a subordinate 'Gaza Executive Board' that implements policies rather than setting them.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was uninvited from the board after delivering a speech at the World Economic Forum warning of a 'rupture' in the world order. Germany, Italy, the UK, and Norway declined to join or expressed reservations, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying participation would be incompatible with Italy's constitution.
Hamas issued a statement after the meeting accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire and calling on board members to hold Israel accountable, signaling that Hamas has not committed to the disarmament that Israel and the U.S. demand as a condition for reconstruction to begin.
🌍Foreign Policy🏛️Government🔐Ethics📋Public Policy
People, bills, and sources
Donald Trump
President of the United States and Board of Peace chairman for life
JD Vance
Vice President of the United States
Marco Rubio
Secretary of State and Board of Peace founding executive board member
Jared Kushner
Senior adviser and founding Executive Board member
Nikolay Mladenov
High Representative for Gaza, Board of Peace
Jasper Jeffers
Major General, U.S. Army; Commander of the International Stabilization Force
Prabowo Subianto
President of Indonesia
Ali Shaath
Head of the Palestinian technocratic government, Gaza Executive Board
Pierbattista Pizzaballa
Cardinal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
Sharif Abdel Kouddous
Middle East and North Africa editor, Drop Site News
Gianni Infantino
President, FIFA
What you can do
1
civic action
Contact your senators about the $10 billion pledge and the Appropriations Clause
Trump pledged $10 billion without a funding source or congressional approval. The Constitution's Appropriations Clause (Article I, Section 9) requires Congress to authorize all federal spending. Your senators can demand a funding plan, hold hearings, or refuse to appropriate the money.
I'm calling about President Trump's $10 billion pledge to the Board of Peace. The Constitution requires Congress to authorize all federal spending. I'd like to know: has Senator [name] received any briefing on the funding source for this pledge? Will they demand a formal appropriations process before any funds are transferred? Will they hold hearings on the board's charter and its lifetime chairmanship structure?
2
civic action
Ask your representative to request the Board of Peace charter and governance documents
The board's charter has not been formally published or submitted to Congress. Rep. Chellie Pingree and other lawmakers have noted Congress has received no formal documentation of how already-appropriated funds are being spent. Requesting documents through your representative is a legitimate oversight function.
I'm calling about the Board of Peace charter. I understand the charter gives Trump lifetime chairmanship of an international body independent of his presidency, requires $1 billion for permanent membership, and excludes Palestinians from the governing board. I'd like Representative [name] to formally request the charter and any related agreements from the State Department and hold a briefing for the public.
3
media literacy
Read the Board of Peace charter and follow independent coverage
Most coverage of the board has focused on Trump's announcements rather than the charter's governance structure. Reporters like Sharif Abdel Kouddous at Drop Site News and analysis from The Guardian have examined the charter in detail. Understanding the actual document is essential to evaluating whether this is a diplomatic breakthrough or a power consolidation.