Statement: New Executive Memo Requires Nonprofits to Pass a Partisan Litmus Test to Provide Critical Services to Communities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 7th, 2025
CONTACT
Caitlin Legacki, press@stopgovernmentcensorship.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the White House released a new memorandum directing the heads of executive departments and agencies to stop funding non-profits and federal grantees that do not align with partisan interests, while dangerously conflating that standard with what is in “the national interest.”
“It puts the safety and wellbeing of every American at risk when we start conflating what is in ‘the national interest’ with a politician's political agenda. Instructing agencies to apply a partisan litmus test to every dollar the federal government spends is a dangerous seizure of power that no president—Democrat or Republican—should be allowed,” said Cole Leiter, Executive Director of Americans Against Government Censorship. “Charitable organizations that receive federal funds, be they houses of worship that serve the poor, schools that educate our children, or hospitals that care for veterans, should never have to pass a politician's loyalty test to do the important work of serving our communities. These non-profit groups provide essential services in our communities and they should be allowed to continue their work without political interference. The President should rescind this order.”
In recent weeks, we have already seen numerous attacks on free speech and non-profits, in an effort to consolidate government power. These include:
Attacks on the Episcopal Church and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, accusing them of misusing religion and supporting immigrants because – according to Vice President JD Vance they are “worried about their bottom line.”
An Executive Order directing federal agencies to investigate private corporations and nonprofits over their existing, legal workplace programs and practices.
A memo from the Office and Management and Budget directing a freeze on all federal dollars appropriated to “nongovernmental organization that undermines the national interest,” without defining what that means.
An Executive Order calling for the revocation of student visas and deportation of non-citizens for their participation in pro-Palestinian protests.
Elon Musk falsely accusing X users in opposition to him of committing crimes, and then unilaterally punishing them through legal threats and account suspension.
Elon Musk has accused numerous faith-based groups of breaking the law without any actual evidence of wrongdoing. These groups have been accused by Musk—without evidence—of “facilitating illegal immigration,” and have seen their funding suspended by the Administration under the guise of “government efficiency.”
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