Bipartisan Nonprofit Suing Trump Administration for Funding Freeze

The National Endowment for Democracy, with bipartisan backing, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after funds were frozen, severely impacting its operations and project funding.

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a nonprofit organization historically supported by both Republican and Democratic leaders, has filed a lawsuit against key officials in the Trump administration for withholding $239 million in congressional appropriations. Faced with a funding crisis after President Trump signed an executive order freezing foreign aid, the NED found its operations severely curtailed, with around 75 percent of its staff placed on unpaid leave and approximately 1,200 grant recipients left without financial support since late January.

The lawsuit, filed in the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that the appropriated funds should not be classified as foreign aid, which is typically managed by the State Department. Board members assert that withholding the funding is illegal and contrary to congressional intent. Peter Roskam, the chair of the NED and a former Republican congressman, expressed the organization's urgency in seeking resolution, stating that they would be pleased if the situation were merely an oversight rather than a deliberate act of obstruction.

The NED's legal challenge underscores the growing tension between governmental authority and nonprofit organizations dedicated to promoting democracy and human rights worldwide. Following decades of bipartisan support, the nonprofit is now confronting a significant hurdle that not only jeopardizes its staff but also the many projects it funds globally.