The Trump administration is preparing a tax offensive against several progressive-oriented nonprofits, in a review that could jeopardize the tax-exempt status of some of the best-known groups in the United States.
According to a report by the New York Post, among the
organizations under review are the Open Society Foundations (OSF), linked to
billionaire George Soros; the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC); and the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The investigation is reportedly
being coordinated by the Treasury Department under Secretary Scott Bessent.
The administration maintains that some organizations may
have misused their tax-exempt status or engaged in activities that, in the government's
view, exceed the limits established for this type of institution.
The process could result in the review or even revocation of
tax benefits, as well as possible financial penalties. In the case of the Open
Society Foundations, the report indicates that authorities are considering a
potential claim for back taxes that could reach $163.6 million.
This offensive is part of a broader strategy by the Trump
administration to increase oversight of non-governmental organizations and
entities that receive public funds. Since 2025, the White House has mandated a
review of federal funding for non-governmental organizations and has
established additional controls on federal grants.
The administration has also instructed the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) to scrutinize tax-exempt organizations that may be involved in
political violence or domestic terrorism, including the possibility of
referring certain cases to the Department of Justice.