Thanks to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, President-elect Donald Trump now has an additional tool to effectively dismantle any organization that mobilizes against him.
According to a report from The Intercept on Thursday, the House passed H.R. 9495, also referred to as the “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act,” with a vote of 219-184. While all the no votes came from Democrats, it is worth noting that 15 Democrats joined the Republican majority in supporting the bill.
If this becomes law, the U.S. Treasury secretary will have the authority to designate any nonprofit as a “terrorist supporting organization” and revoke its tax-exempt status. As a result, the affected group would no longer be able to continue its operations.
Progressive forces are declaring their commitment to mounting an “unprecedented resistance” against the second term of President Trump.
H.R. 9495 has the potential to be employed against various groups that openly criticized Trump during his initial term, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign, the NAACP, Planned Parenthood, and the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Additionally, it could potentially be utilized against nonprofit news organizations such as ProPublica, Mother Jones, the Texas Tribune, and the Center for Investigative Reporting.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) emerged as a prominent critic of the bill, voicing his concerns over its implications. He contended that the current legislation effectively safeguards against U.S. organizations aiding terrorist factions, rendering H.R. 9495 superfluous.
Doggett further suggested that the bill was a strategic maneuver to grant President Donald Trump boundless authority in designating his adversaries as terrorists.
“Authoritarianism doesn’t emerge suddenly; it gradually infiltrates society,” Doggett explained on Thursday. “A dictator doesn’t only seize power, but also seeks to acquire additional powers, and those who have the ability to oppose him willingly surrender and yield to his desires.”
The bill is now making its way to the U.S. Senate for further consideration. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has not yet stated his position on the bill, while Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) has been vocal in his opposition to H.R. 9495.
