In the nation’s capital, there’s been a cascade of challenges and tensions as President Donald Trump seeks to reshape the landscape of American civil society by targeting key advocacy groups. What began with an assault on prominent law firms and leading academic institutions has now turned towards nonprofits and watchdog organizations. During a White House event, Trump announced a move to scrutinize the tax-exempt status of entities like Harvard University, environmental advocacy groups, and notably, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). This pivot could have severe financial ramifications for such nonprofits, particularly those perceived as adversaries of Trump.
The president declared, “It’s supposed to be a charitable organization,” pointing to CREW specifically. “The only charity they had is going after Donald Trump,” he remarked, highlighting a potential focus on these organizations moving forward. This sentiment echoes concerns Trump critics have harbored privately for some time: that his administration’s next target would be advocacy groups.
Trump’s administration is noted for challenging the independence and existence of various key institutions, including legal firms and universities. With potential financial penalties looming, advocacy groups are now poised to join this list under scrutiny. In under 100 days into Trump’s new term, this unprecedented approach to leveraging executive power is sending ripples through the American political framework.
Commentators, including Cole Leiter from Americans Against Government Censorship, express alarm at this trend of using federal authority to undermine political adversaries. “No administration, Republican or Democratic,” Leiter stated, “should be able to weaponize the weight of the government against their political enemies.”
With each passing day, a new administrative directive seems to surface, targeting Trump’s perceived contenders. Recently, Trump honed in on the ethics watchdog CREW, co-founded by Norm Eisen, a figure central to Trump’s first impeachment proceedings, and environmental groups critical of his policies. Trump emphasized that the privilege of tax-exempt status was being abused, a privilege not limited just to Harvard University, he claimed.
Amid this backdrop, there’s mounting concern among various types of advocacy groups—particularly those concerned with environmental, immigration, and civil liberties—over potential government action that could affect their financial standing. Speculation continues on whether Trump might leverage Earth Day to advance scrutiny on environmental organizations, whose missions often conflict with his administration’s policies.
CREW is familiar with Trump, having investigated his activities for many years. Most recently, they’ve been active in efforts related to the 14th Amendment and the exclusion of Trump from future elections due to the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. Their track record of challenging governmental misconduct positions them at the heart of Trump’s current focus.
Despite intensifying pressure, results from Trump’s confrontations with civil society groups have varied. Some major law firms have yielded to White House demands, opting to provide extensive support to preferred causes to maintain federal engagements, while others like Harvard face tighter repercussions, defending its autonomy even as it risks losing significant federal funding and tax benefits.
For nonprofits, the loss of tax-exempt status represents a perilous threat, risking vital donations and destabilizing their financial base. As Jordan Libowitz of CREW emphasized, the organizations committed to integrity are crucial to democracy. He reaffirmed the commitment of these groups to uphold accountability within the government.