House Committee Adds Language to Budget Legislation That Would Give Trump Unchecked Powers to Crush Dissent

On Wednesday morning, the House Ways and Means Committee voted along party lines to approve budget-reconciliation legislation that revives language from a shelved 2024 bill giving the White House dangerous powers to crush dissenting voices in America’s nonprofit sector.

H.R. 9495, which failed to pass in the previous Congress, would have granted the executive branch broad and easily abused powers to revoke the tax-exempt status of a nonprofit by merely claiming that it is a “terrorist supporting organization.” Though the House passed the legislation in November 2024 with a narrow majority, mounting public opposition turned many legislators against it. As a result, the Senate didn’t bring the bill to the floor before Congress’ term expired.

H.R. 9495’s draconian language was buried on page 380 of the pre-marked-up bill. If it passes Congress, the reconciliation measure would grant the U.S. Secretary of Treasury the ability to accuse any nonprofit of supporting terrorism — and to terminate its tax-exempt status without due process.

Free Press Action Advocacy Director Jenna Ruddock said:

“Like zombies returning from the dead, House Republicans’ reconciliation bills revive some of the most horrifying ideas of past Congresses. Today, the legislation formerly known as H.R. 9495 has returned to wreak havoc against dissenting voices across the country’s nonprofit sector. Like too many other overbroad and easily abused powers, this measure would undoubtedly be weaponized by a White House with a track record of attacks against any speech that displeases our authoritarian president.

“If it were signed into law, the legislation would allow this or any other administration to accuse any nonprofit it dislikes of supporting terrorism — putting the burden on the organization to prove otherwise, or risk losing its tax-exempt status. The bill would have a widespread chilling effect not only on nonprofit groups but on the millions of people across the United States who rely on these organizations to help them access crucial services and engage in the political process.

“The bill has dangerously broad statutory language that would allow the Trump administration to interpret its authority in any number of harmful ways. Every member of Congress must oppose handing such sweeping powers to an increasingly dictatorial executive. When H.R. 9495 came before Congress last year, tens of thousands of people picked up their phones or signed petitions to express deep concerns about this profoundly anti-democratic measure. People must again reach out to their elected representatives and senators and call out the massive potential for abuse before it’s too late.

“This measure’s real intent lurks behind its hyperbolic and unsubstantiated anti-terrorist rhetoric: It would allow the Treasury Department to explicitly target, harass and investigate thousands of U.S. organizations that make up civil society, including nonprofit newsrooms. The bill’s language lacks any meaningful safeguards against abuse. Instead it puts the burden of proof on organizations rather than on the government. It’s not hard to imagine how the Trump administration would use it to exact revenge on groups that have raised questions about or simply angered the president and other officials in his orbit.

“Chilling free speech doesn’t keep Americans safe. Instead it gives an authoritarian regime another tool to violate the rights that form the foundation of a healthy democracy.”