Two major developments in the United States are putting American philanthropies on edge.
First, The New York Times revealed last week that Justice Department leaders had instructed U.S. attorneys to draft plans to investigate George Soros’s Open Society Foundations — long a target of President Donald Trump as well as right-wing groups worldwide — with possible charges ranging from material support for terrorism to racketeering.
And second, on the same day, the White House unveiled a new executive memorandum directing law enforcement to “disband and uproot” networks that it views as supporting domestic terrorism — which includes nonprofits and foundations. The document, which echoes elements of the Justice Department’s plans, directs FBI-led task forces to go after not just violent acts, but the networks behind them, from recruitment and funding streams to nonprofit involvement and financial crimes. It instructs the U.S. Treasury and the IRS to crack down on tax-exempt groups that might “directly or indirectly” support political violence.