Today, the House of Representatives’ Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce held a hearing that purported to investigate the use of federal funds by nonprofit organizations. In reality, it was a politically motivated spectacle filled with falsehoods and baseless attacks on civil society.
In response, Legal Defense Fund (LDF) Director-Counsel Janai S. Nelson issued the following statement.
“What we witnessed today was not a serious exercise in oversight—it was a disturbing abuse of congressional power. The hearing was filled with mistruths and misleading claims, designed to discredit nonprofit organizations.
“Nonprofits play a vital role in our democracy, working every day to support local communities, respond to urgent needs, and hold government accountable. They operate with transparency, accountability, and an unwavering dedication to the public good. Their contributions should be respected, not demonized.
“Today’s hearing is part of a broader, coordinated campaign to intimidate, harass, and silence civil society groups that this Administration perceives as threats because they do not heed to its extremist ideology. These smear tactics endanger our work, our safety, and the health of our democracy.
“Silencing dissent is a well-worn page from the authoritarian playbook, long used to discredit civil society. Today, that playbook is being deployed with particular intensity against civil and human rights organizations – groups that have historically held power to account and defended the most marginalized. These escalating attacks do not seek to undermine nonprofits broadly—they are a deliberate strategy to target and weaken those who fight for justice and equality.
But we will not be deterred. Our work is more vital than ever – and we will continue to do it with courage, conviction, and clarity.”
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Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights.
