Presidential Memorandum on Domestic Terrorism: A Threat to Nonprofits
On September 25, President Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing federal agencies to investigate, prosecute, and disrupt nonprofit organizations the Administration alleges are supporting or funding domestic terrorism.
This action follows months of escalating rhetoric from the President and senior White House officials portraying nonprofits as “enemies” of the American people and accusing them—without evidence—of fueling radicalization and political violence. The memorandum was issued just days after an executive order designating Antifa as a “domestic terrorist organization,” despite testimony from former FBI Director Christopher Wray that Antifa is “a movement or ideology,” not a formal group. On the same day, reports surfaced that the U.S. Department of Justice was directed to launch a criminal investigation into the Open Society Foundations, an unprecedented and alarming escalation of attacks on the nonprofit sector.
This memorandum represents a dangerous misuse of government power. It threatens free speech, seeks to silence dissent, and targets nonprofits based on their missions.
What Nonprofits Can Do
The National Council for Nonprofits' urges all nonprofits to take action:
Sign the Solidarity Letter: Join NCN and more than 3,000 organizations in rejecting both political violence and the abuse of government power to silence nonprofits.
Attend the National Webinar: Monday, September 29 at 4:00 PM ET. Learn about the memorandum, its implications, and what to expect going forward. NCN President and CEO Diane Yentel will be among the speakers.
Contact Congress: Urge your Senators and Representatives to protect nonprofits from ideologically driven attacks. Use our template email to make your voice heard.