Government Affairs Digest: What Nonprofits Need to Know (Part 10) - Updated 4/4/25
April 4, 2025 - This content will be updated as developments unfold.
Latest Developments:
April 4: NEA Special Update
Key takeaways from Theatre Communications Group who is part of the ACLU-led lawsuit challenging the National Endowment for the Arts’ funding restriction tied to “gender ideology.”
As a reminder: the current state of the application process is that the NEA temporarily removed the restriction that forced applicants to agree that they will not “promote” what is being referred to as “gender ideology” in order to receive federal funding.
In addition, the NEA advised the judge on March 7th that the NEA was in an internal process of evaluating how the executive order would be implemented.
The NEA has not yet finalized how it will apply the restriction (including whether it may be reinstated), but it has indicated a decision may come after April 30.
This ruling does not prevent the NEA from reimposing the restriction.
With this ruling, the court has given a preliminary review of the strength of our argument and that review suggests reinstating the “gender ideology” criteria would be unlawful.
Read: Explanation of ruling from Theatre Communications Group
Resource: EXECUTIVE ACTIONS & THEIR IMPACT ON THE ARTS: A Comprehensive Guide
Call to Action from Americans for the Arts: URGENT UPDATE: Special Session Today
Join us today, April 4th at 4:00 PM ET for a critical Office Hours discussion on the unprecedented changes at federal cultural agencies. Featuring key representatives from ACLU Rhode Island, National Humanities Alliance, American Library Association, and Federation of State Humanities Councils. Register now for this crucial conversation about protecting federal support for arts and culture.
We’ll address:
IMLS staff administrative leave situation
DOGE’s recommendation of severe cuts to NEH
Potential impacts on NEA and other agencies
Latest developments in ACLU’s NEA lawsuit
March 25: President Trump signed an executive order entitled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” seeking to make changes to the way federal elections are administered at the state level, which will be challenged in court as unconstitutional per Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the Constitution. It has been noted that the executive order inaccurately describes the rules of nonprofit lobbying with federal funds.
Read: Executive Order on Election Administration - Nonprofit Vote
Relevant for: Any American voter, Nonprofits focused on voter access
March 26: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services canceled around $12 billion in federal grants to states that were allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants were being used to track, prevent, and control infectious diseases, including measles and bird flu, as well as track mental health services and fund addiction treatment.
Read: US pulls back $12 billion in funding to state health departments - Reuters
Relevant for: Public Health, Mental Health, Addiction Services
House DOGE Subcommittee Chair Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) held a hearing on “Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable.” President Trump is expected to sign a threatened executive order to defund federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which partially funds these two public media outlets. Note: This move would harm rural communities the most, as stations in larger markets fundraise to support the majority of their operations, and rural stations rely heavily on CPB funds.
Watch: PBS and NPR leaders testify on federal support for public broadcasting in House hearing
Relevant for: Nonprofit Media, Democracy-focused orgs, Rural Access
March 27: President Trump signed an executive order entitled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," aiming to eliminate "divisive, race-centered ideology" from federal historical institutions. The order directs Vice President Vance to oversee the removal of such ideologies from the Smithsonian Institution's museums, educational and research centers, and the National Zoo. Among the other directives in the executive order, it also instructs the Secretary of the Interior to investigate similar "divisive, race-centered ideology" found on federal monuments, memorials, statues, and markers within the Secretary’s jurisdiction.
Read: Trump executive order seeks to 'restore' American history through Smithsonian overhaul - NPR
Relevant for: Education, Researchers, History, Arts, Humanities, Museums
Senior U.S. District Court Judge William Smith of Rhode Island heard arguments concerning the constitutionality of complying with President Trump’s “gender ideology” Executive Order #14168, linked to the National Endowment for the Arts new grant guidelines. While Judge Smith did not promise an injunction, he said he would help get the plaintiffs "out of this 'Hobson's choice' they have to make about whether to submit a proposal they want to submit versus the proposal they think they might have to submit." A ruling is expected on 4/3/25 or by the morning of the following day.
Read: LGBTQ+ theater groups have day in court over endangered arts funding - Rhode Island Current
Relevant for: Arts & Culture, Artists & Curators, Creative Placemaking
March 31: All Institute of Museum and Library Services staff were put on administrative leave two weeks after President Trump issued an executive order naming the independent agency as one of seven that should be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.”
Trump Administration Moves to Shutter Library Agency - New York Times
AAM Statement on the Placing of IMLS Staff on Administrative Leave - American Alliance of Museums
IMLS Interactive Map of Grantees - IMLS
Relevant for: Education, Researchers, History, Arts, Humanities, Libraries
SOME GOOD NEWS:
Press 3 for a pep talk from kindergartners. A new hotline gives you options for joy - NPR
Alysa Liu is first U.S. woman to win figure skating world title in 19 years (NBC Sports) - If you haven’t watched Liu’s free skate performance, we highly recommend it!
Yes, You Do Make a Difference. Here's How—Backed By Science - Psychology Today
Resources:
The Impact Map provides timely data—as it becomes available—on policy, funding, and workforce changes and their localized effect.
Georgia 2025 Gold Dome Bill Tracker - WABE
FAQs on Responding to Recent DEI Executive Orders - Public Counsel
Nonprofits and the New Administration - Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta’s resource page is regularly updated.
Updates for Organizations with DEI Questions - Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
Navigating Major Government Changes: Strategic Conversations Your Board Should Be Having Now - Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
Tracking Federal Actions Impacting the Nonprofit Sector - GrantStation
Webinar Series: TargetED Series: Shifting Perspectives to Enhance Your Grant Competitiveness. A six-part series beginning on April 14th presented by GrantStation.
Further Reading:
Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals 2025 Pulse Survey
PRIMARY TAKEAWAY: Corporations remain committed to corporate social responsibility programs and initiatives with 90% of respondents indicating they anticipate their company’s commitment will stay the same or increase under the new Presidential administration because there are substantial business benefits of these programs including improved recruitment and retention, revenue growth and strengthening trust and brand loyalty.
Sustaining the Safety Net: How Service Providers are Navigating Political Uncertainty - Building Movement Project
Data Visualization: What Is the Financial Risk of Nonprofits Losing Government Grants? - Independent Sector
Advocacy in a Post-Election Year - Nonprofit Law Blog
Fitzgerald, Baskin and Riley: Your favorite Atlanta nonprofit is at risk - AJC
