Shortly after being sworn in, President Trump issued dozens of Executive Orders (EOs) and Memorandums covering a broad range of issues with potential impact on nonprofits and the communities we serve.
MCN is actively engaging with elected officials and the National Council of Nonprofits to monitor the latest orders and memos. Our goal is to mitigate the impact on our state’s most vulnerable communities and the operations of Minnesota’s 8,641 nonprofits and their 376,328 employees.
Below is the latest news, vetted resources, calls to action, and background on these decisions to help you navigate this uncertainty.
Protecting Minnesota Community Forums with Attorney General Keith Ellison
March 6: Golden Valley; March 13: Minneapolis; March 15: Rochester; March 20: Westside St. Paul; March 22: Moorhead
Executive Orders affecting nonprofits
What we know so far about EOs that will directly or peripherally impact the nonprofit sector.
Resources to navigate uncertainty
During crises, focus on key levers of stability: strong internal controls; sustainable revenue mix; strategic HR; ethical leadership.
Take action: Impact survey
Help MCN advocate more effectively by sharing examples of real-world impact of federal decisions on your nonprofit.
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Latest updates from MCN
The latest federal decisions impacting nonprofits, including legal action and advocacy efforts.
Executive Order specific resources
A growing list of resources to understand Executive Actions and their impact.
Litigation Tracker
Public resource tracking legal challenges to Trump administration actions.
Background
“Executive orders (EOs) signed by the President provide guidance and directives to federal agencies on their operations and policies and have the force of law. However, executive orders are not legislation, and while Congress can advance legislation that supports or hinders the effects, it cannot overturn them.” (National Council of Nonprofits)
Impact on Nonprofits
The work of nonprofits cover a wide range, and executive orders have the potential to impact funding, staffing, and general operations of critical community services. The implications of the executive orders vary greatly from immediately taking effect to immediately being challenged in court.
Nonprofits with federal grants and contracts should review their programs and contract language immediately as it pertains the various EOs.
Timeline
After he was sworn into office, President Trump signed dozens of Executive Orders (EOs) covering a broad range of issues.
- January 22: Following his inauguration, President Trump signed dozens of Executive Orders covering a broad range of issues, many of which could impact the nonprofit community.
- January 27: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo (M-25-13) freezing all federal grants and loans, effective January 28 at 5pm ET.
- January 28: A Federal Judge issues a one-week temporary stay on the OMB funding freeze until further arguments can be heard.
- January 28: Democracy Forward files suit to block OMB federal funding freeze, on behalf of nonprofit, public health, and small business coalition, including the National Council of Nonprofits.
- Why we filed a lawsuit against the administration. (National Council of Nonprofits)
- Timeline of the lawsuit.
- January 28: 23 state Attorneys General filed a separate suit against the federal funding freeze.
- January 29: OMB Memo M-25-13 calling for federal grants & loan freeze was rescinded.
- January 31: A Federal Judge issued a temporary restraining order in the lawsuit filed by a coalition of 23 state Attorneys General against the federal funding freeze.
- February 4: In response to the suit filed by Democracy Forward, a U.S. District Court granted a temporary restraining order against the federal funding freeze.
- February 5: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memo requiring the DOJ Civil Rights Division to “investigate, eliminate, and penalize illegal DEI and DEIA preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities in the private sector and in educational institutions that receive federal funds.” (See Executive Order: Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.)
- February 5: The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a memo requiring all departments to “identify all contracts, grants, or other agreements with organizations that support or provide services to removable or illegal aliens.” The memo also states that sanctuary jurisdictions should not receive access to federal grants administered by DOJ. (See Executive Order: Protecting the American People Against Invasion.)
- February 6: White House issued a memo for the heads of Executive Departments and Agencies to “review all funding that agencies provide to NGOs” and are given authority to “align future funding decisions with the interest of the U.S.”
- February 21: A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking two executive orders (EO 14151, and EO 14173) attempting to terminate or change federal grants and contracts for programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The judge ruled that the policies and term “diversity, equity, and inclusion” were potentially vague, discriminating, and unconstitutional by penalizing private organizations, including charitable nonprofits. However, agencies are permitted to proceed with reviewing various programs related to these EOs and to issue any reports as required under the EOs. The ruling applies nationwide.