UUSC Statement on Defending Philanthropic Freedom from Escalating Attacks

Under the guise of countering terrorism, the Trump administration aims to restrict philanthropic freedom and people’s ability to support human rights and the causes they care about. We side with the thousands of philanthropic institutions and nonprofit organizations doing important and lawful work who are being targeted by this administration.

We will continue to protect our freedom to express ourselves, to give, and to invest in communities. UUSC has already joined an open letter to defend against governmental interference in how we carry out our mission and serve our communities with care, compassion, and mutual aid.

The current administration’s actions to criminalize the work of progressive organizations are a brazen attempt to weaken the foundations of society. They are not in alignment with the majority of Americans’ views on constitutionally protected free speech, free association, and our right to protest.

This strategy was laid out in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 that seeks to eradicate progressive movements through the pre-existing terrorism and sanctions regime which will open the door for unchecked surveillance and restrictions on civil society groups.

To be clear, this is an attempt to scare organizations and silence speech. We support the groups targeted who are unequivocal in their commitment to non-violent means of resistance and are dedicated to democratic values.

Likewise, UUSC remains bold and steadfast in our commitment to democracy, organizing, free speech and a robust and powerful civil society, both here in the United States and globally.