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ADVOCACY UPDATE
April 22, 2025
White House escalates attacks on nonprofits; what we know so far
According to growing reports, President Trump may soon issue one or more executive orders directly targeting the tax-exempt status of nonprofit organizations.
We are not yet certain when and in what form the orders might be issued, but according to some accounts, the orders could seek to declare that certain kinds of activities or missions do not qualify for 501(c)(3) tax exemption, including environmental protection, international relief activities, or broader based advocacy groups; give DOGE, the White House Department of Governmental Efficiency, greater access to government-funded nonprofits; or target specific organizations or foundations for IRS scrutiny or action.
It’s important to note that the administration does not have the authority to unilaterally target nonprofits in this way. That doesn’t make it any less dangerous or alarming, but it does mean that there are tools to fight back.
These actions would be the latest in a series of escalating and destructive steps initiated by the White House against core tenets and institutions of government and civil society.
Since Inauguration Day, the White House has issued sweeping executive orders that extend far beyond customary public policy shifts. Examples include seeking to eliminate birthright citizenship and protections for immigrants; rolling back protections for the LGBTQ+ community; pulling funds or directing investigations of private companies or organizations based on their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; removing security clearances from law firms that represented clients that opposed the president in court; and others.
The White House has made numerous attempts, some successful and others blocked by court challenges, to unilaterally freeze or claw back funds previously approved by Congress, and the proposed FY 2026 budget blueprint would deal devastating funding cuts to a wide array of programs and services relied on by millions of people.
After Harvard University refused to comply with Administration demands for greater oversight and involvement in its governance, hiring, admissions and other practices, the Administration responded by freezing more than $2.2 billion in grants and contracts and threatened the University’s tax exemption. (On Monday, April 21, Harvard announced that it had filed suit to challenge the funding freeze.) Other universities have had funds frozen or been put on noticeregarding diversity, equity and inclusion programs, perceived ideological biases, or allegations of civil rights violations.
The Administration is seeking to defund public media such as PBS, NPR, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting on largely ideological grounds.
On April 15, officials from DOGE, the White House Department of Governmental Efficiency, attempted to assign a team to the Vera Institute of Justice, an independent, private social justice nonprofit that until recently received $5 million in federal grants. The Vera Institute reports that DOGE representatives indicated DOGE’s intent to “assign DOGE teams to ‘every institute or agency that has congressional monies appropriated to it.’”
An executive order seeking to roll back key voting protections nationwide also includes a provision designed to chill advocacy by organizations that receive federal funds, inaccurately stating that lobbying with their private funds is illegal.
President Trump has been increasingly vocal about his explicit desire to strip tax exemption from entities that engage in speech or legal advocacy that disagree with his policies or positions. In addition to Harvard, he has called out the watchdog nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and implied that others would be on the radar. Meanwhile, the president and his allies have engaged in a series of attacks on social media designed to undermine trust in nonprofits and other institutions.
What’s next and what you can do
Stay tuned for announcements regarding upcoming webinars, days of advocacy action, and other items. The timing of these will depend on when any executive actions take place. We are working closely with the National Council of Nonprofits and other partners, and we will share updates through email and our website as events unfold.
We will keep working to advocate for and with you, and connect you to knowledge and resources as we navigate this landscape. We are here for you, so let us know how you’re doing, and how we can help.
Thank you for your advocacy, perseverance, and all you are doing in our communities. We are always stronger together.
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