Civil society

A robust civil society is one of the hallmarks of a healthy democracy — a space where people can organize, stay informed, debate ideas, and advocate for themselves and their communities without fear of government scrutiny. Nonprofits are at the heart of that space. They provide critical services, hold political leaders accountable, and fight back when government goes too far. That is precisely what makes them attractive targets for leaders who want to avoid accountability and consolidate power.

The targeting of civil society is not random — it is a well-documented tactic from the authoritarian playbook, deployed against perceived critics and opponents to shrink the space for lawful dissent.

Politicized investigations threaten civil society & free elections

The administration has made clear it intends to go after what it calls the “radical left ecosystem” and its “funders,” but the standards it uses to identify targets are designed to sweep up constitutionally-protected speech and advocacy. News outlets have reported that the administration created enemies lists of nonprofits for federal agencies to investigate because their viewpoints don’t align with the administration’s (lists that Protect Democracy is suing to uncover) — indeed it’s increasingly clear that that administration is willing to leverage its law enforcement powers to do just that. These tactics don’t just threaten targeted nonprofits themselves, they threaten the ability of civil society as a whole to speak out against the administration and to offer competing viewpoints and ideas —- in short, these tactics are part of a larger strategy by the White House to stifle meaningful competition as the midterm elections draw near.. Equipping organizations to resist

Nonprofits are a key part of civil society, providing critical services to communities across the country and often challenging abuses of power. As authoritarian-minded leaders try to insulate themselves from accountability, they often target organizations they see as a threat, and it is important that nonprofits understand these tactics and how best to respond. Protect Democracy’s Nonprofit Toolkit offers step-by-step guidance for organizations facing congressional or IRS investigations, subpoenas, search warrants, data demands, asset freezes, and other politicized executive actions. For coalitions, a companion Operational Security Guide covers secure communications, vetting practices, and how to build a security culture that protects members and mission-driven work.

Civil society is fighting back

The first year of this administration revealed the degree to which targeting the infrastructure of civil society is a focus of its efforts to entrench power — and also the continued strength of U.S. civil society in the face of these repressive government actions. Nonprofits have continued their work, formed coalitions, and pushed back in court. The legal tools to protect civil society exist — from First Amendment protections against politically motivated investigations, to FOIA litigation to expose how targeting decisions are made. Sustaining that resistance, and ensuring organizations have the resources and knowledge to navigate the threat, is one of the most urgent tasks of this moment.

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