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United Methodist Kairos Response (UMKR) could be among potential non-profits targeted by the Trump Administration because it supports Palestinian rights.
Courtesy of Guardian News & Media Ltd
Donald Trump and his Republican allies are planning to target progressive groups they perceive as political enemies in a sign of deepening “authoritarianism”, a US watchdog has warned.
The president-elect could potentially use the justice department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to target non-profits and researchers, launch politically motivated investigations and pass legislation to restrict their activities.
“Trump has made it clear that he plans to use his second term to attack the progressive ecosystem and his perceived enemies,” Adrienne Watson of the Congressional Integrity Project (CIP) told the Guardian. “This is a worrying progression of Trump’s authoritarianism that would undermine our democracy.”
The CIP announced on Wednesday that it will aim to counter such abuses of power with a new initiative to defend progressive groups and individuals. The Civic Defense Project will be led by Watson, a former White House and Democratic National Committee spokesperson.
Fears have been raised by the Trump second term agenda’s considerable overlap with Project 2025, a policy blueprint from the Heritage Foundation think tank that includes plans to attack non-profits, researchers and civil society groups that have challenged election denial narratives.
Activists say the threat extends beyond political investigations and includes leveraging government agencies such as the justice department and IRS to investigate, prosecute and shut down organizations that oppose the administration’s policies.
Editor's note: Among potential United Methodist targets are organizations such as Reconciling Ministries Network that supports LGBTQ persons; United Methodist Kairos Response which supports Palestinians; UM Creation Justice Movement and Fossil Free UMC, which back fossil fuel divestment and climate crisis measures; Methodist Federation for Social Action; and possibly even the General Board of Church and Society, which enacts the social justice policies adopted by General Conference, the body empowered to speak for the entire denomination.
Congressional Republicans have a history of targeting non-profits including charities, advocacy groups and universities, the CIP says. This includes recently seeking to investigate and restrict the activities of tax-exempt organizations supporting causes they oppose.
Josh Hawley, a Republican senator and Trump ally, has called for the justice department to shut down organizations backing protests involving civil disobedience. Senator JD Vance, now vice-president-elect, introduced a bill to withdraw federal support and impose a 50% excise tax on universities that fail to stop student protests.
Republicans have vowed to continue their investigations into Joe Biden and his family, despite previous investigations yielding no evidence of wrongdoing. The House administration subcommittee chair, Barry Loudermilk, is demanding a new panel investigate the 6 January 2021 attack and the original January 6 committee.
In another ominous sign, the House last month passed legislation that would give the treasury department unilateral authority to strip the tax-exempt status of non-profits it claims support terrorism. Critics have raised concerns that this law could be used to crush dissent.
The Civic Defense Project said it will operate as a rapid response war room to debunk attacks and defend those unfairly targeted.
David Smith reports from Washington for The Guardian US. This article is adapted for publication according to The Guardian's Open License.