Trump’s secret war against vital nonprofits

We’ve heard about the Trump administration’s attacks on government agencies, independent commissions, law firms and universities. But there is also a growing campaign against the many nonprofit organizations that serve our communities across the country, including 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, unions and more. 

These organizations (and the foundations that fund them) are vital for holding the government accountable when it attempts to trample the rights and protections we rely on. Already, nonprofits have mobilized in the streets, in the courts and in state houses across the country to check this administration’s dangerous power grabs. Often, nonprofits represent the voice of the people. That is exactly why the attacks are coming fast and furious, and why we must stand firmly to defend these organizations.

The recent attempts to decimate civil society are akin to McCarthyism, where broad labels are applied to demonize organizations whose work the administration or Republican lawmakers disagree with. Here are just a few examples of these vague and unfounded accusations:

• “Supporting terrorism and abetting illegal immigration” – This terminology was used to describe employers for whom public service loan forgiveness would be denied.
• “Antifa” – President Trump designated Antifa as a terrorist organization, even though there is no unified Antifa. Trump is simply setting up an attack on any group that expresses it’s working to resist fascism.
• “Funding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its allies” – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) used this accusation as justification to launch a probe into the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Ford Foundation.
• “Fostering antisemitism on college campuses” – House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Missouri) used this language in a letter to the IRS demanding that certain organizations that advocated on behalf of Palestinians be investigated to lose their tax-exempt status. 
• “Use violence or the threat of violence to advance political and social agendas, including opposition to law and immigration enforcement; extreme views in favor of mass migration and open borders; adherence to radical gender ideology, anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, or anti-Christianity” — This is how Attorney General Pam Bondi framed a new investigation into what she called “extremist groups,” potentially defining almost any organization that supports progressive ideas as a potential “domestic terrorist.” 

These are just a few of the many investigations that have been launched against various nonprofits this year.

There is a clear pattern here: The Trump administration and its congressional allies repeatedly target any organization that opposes its priorities. They can easily weaponize these vague categories to harm organizations with investigations that could cost them money and damage their reputations, even if the organization is ultimately found innocent. The administration has spoken openly about its intention to target donors directly, intimidating funders who provide critical support to organizations dedicated to advancing justice.

Often, nonprofits represent the voice of the people. That is exactly why the attacks are coming fast and furious, and why we must stand firmly to defend these organizations.

The misinformation efforts to paint these groups as violent — particularly in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination — has also raised security concerns. Nonprofits may also have to consider how they might need to guarantee the physical safety of their staffs and offices. University professors have already faced death threats after being similarly targeted by the administration.

These attacks are designed to be intimidating — to discourage organizations from speaking out as boldly as they might have otherwise. Even if they do not back down from their speech, the more time and money nonprofits dedicate to protecting themselves, the less they can dedicate to their actual missions. Creating this chaos and forcing these organizations to anticipate these attacks is exactly the administration’s goal.

We need to recognize these attacks for what they are and defend the organizations that serve our democracy. Many provide the only venue for marginalized groups to speak to policymakers. They educate the public on important issues and shore up access to the polls through voter registration efforts and other get-out-the-vote campaigns. They are also essential to holding corporations accountable as well as the very Republican lawmakers who are now going on the offensive. They are the organizers of protests and opposition campaign strategies. And in a time when critical federal government programs and services are being cut, nonprofits are often the only lifeline to stand in the gap for communities in need of healthcare, food, shelter and more.

At Alliance for Justice, we’re doing our best to help nonprofits protect themselves through our Bolder Advocacy program, which trains organizations and helps them prepare for potential attacks. We even created a “Break in Case of PANIC” resource hub to provide a guideline and playbook for nonprofit leaders.

In partnership with We the Action, we also recently launched the Nonprofit Legal Defense Network, which will help nonprofits identify potential compliance gaps and equip them with the information they need to resist any intimidation they may face.

We need to recognize these political attacks for what they are: attempts to silence the opposition as the Trump administration grabs even more power for itself. We must stand proudly with advocates across the country fighting to protect their communities. We all deserve better, and by working together, we will weather the storm of these vile intimidation tactics and protect civil society — a critical pillar of our democracy.

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Rachel Rossi is the president of Alliance for Justice and Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, bringing decades of experience as a public defender, policymaker, and advocate for civil rights and access to justice. She most recently served as director of the Office for Access to Justice at the U.S. Department of Justice and previously as deputy associate attorney general, where she became the first-ever Anti-Hate Coordinator. A proud daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic and Greece, Rossi’s career — from the courtroom to Capitol Hill — reflects her unwavering commitment to equity, reform, and defending democracy.