In the last few months, progressive nonprofits and philanthropies have found themselves in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, which critics say is attempting to dismantle liberal opposition. From the likes of terrorism to tax evasion, it has lodged a number of criminal allegations against organizations in the sector. Far-reaching and on precarious legal footing, experts say such attacks threaten the U.S. First Amendment.
“Let’s be very clear: baseless criminal and civil investigations into non-profits are not about preventing violence—they are about silencing organizations and individuals with which the administration disagrees,” Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, the largest network of nonprofits in the United States, said in a statement.
What’s currently happening to nonprofits and foundations is what law offices and universities in the U.S. have already experienced. “It’s a coordinated attack on lots of aspects of American society that this administration feels threatens it,” said Tanya Greene, U.S. program director at Human Rights Watch.