Since taking office, the Trump Administration has initiated significant policy changes at the federal level. A slew of executive orders impacting nonprofits directly and indirectly have been issued (though some may not take effect immediately or will be challenged in court). A memo from January 27th announced a pause on federal grants and assistance.
As new developments unfold and more information becomes available, Common Good Vermont will continue to update this page with resources and guidance. Read on for information on executive orders, the federal funding pause, and immigration actions.
TAKE ACTION: How are federal actions impacting your organization and the community you serve?
Please complete this form or email us at [email protected] to describe the impact on your organization including:
- Who/what is impacted (organization, types of funding, from which agencies/sources, or clients)?
- How great is the impact/how much funding is impacted?
- How do you know you are impacted (i.e., did you affirmatively hear your funding is frozen, can you not access funding, or are you concerned about non-responsiveness or something else)?
Events
- 2/6 11 am: Immigration & ICE: Rights, Obligations, & Support for Businesses and Nonprofits
- What do the new federal actions mean for your business or non-profit? Does your team know their rights and obligations should ICE come to your place of work? Join an expert panel of Vermont and national leaders to get your questions answered. This webinar is offered as a partnership of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, and the State Treasurer’s Office.
- 2/7 3 pm: Executive Actions and Their Impact on Charitable Nonprofits
- Free webinar from the National Council of Nonprofits – learn more about EOs, the ones most directly or indirectly impacting charitable nonprofits, and the latest on the legal challenges.
Executive Orders
Please refer to this website and chart from the National Council of Nonprofits which will continue to be updated with new information and analysis.
Federal Funding Pause
The Trump Administration announced a pause in federal grants and other assistance that was set to begin on January 28, 2025 at 5 pm. The memo reads “to the extent permissible under applicable law, federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.” This freeze in funding would greatly impact the nonprofit sector and our ability to provide the services that are so vital to the Vermont community, as we have already seen following the recent executive order halting the country’s refugee resettlement program.
This action has been blocked for now through the courts – read on for updates and resources.
More information:
- 2/5: Common Good Vermont presented a report on the Impacts of Federal Transition on Vermont’s Nonprofit Organizations to the Treasurer’s Taskforce on the Federal Transition. This report aggregated the stories of more than 50 Vermont nonprofits who generously responded to our requests for information. Thank you to all who took the time to share your experiences!
You can read our memo to the taskforce here. - Update 2/3:
- BREAKING: Judge Issues Temporary Restraining Order on OMB Freeze
- The judge presiding over the lawsuit filed by Democracy Forward on behalf of the National Council of Nonprofits, the American Public Health Association, Main Street Alliance, and SAGE has granted another Temporary Restraining Order against the admin’s ability to halt federal grants and loans.
- BREAKING: Judge Issues Temporary Restraining Order on OMB Freeze
- NPR 1/31: A 2nd U.S. judge says Trump administration must pause its federal spending freeze
- A judge with the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration’s efforts to freeze payments for grants and other programs.
- The Friday ruling stems from a lawsuit filed earlier this week by Democratic attorneys general in 22 states and the District of Columbia. It is separate from a lawsuit filed by Democracy Forward and other non-profit groups that resulted in a separate federal judge’s decision to temporarily block the plan as originally detailed in a memo by the Office of Management and Budget. The White House later rescinded that OMB memo, but stated that its review of federal funding remained in effect.
- Update 1/29 4 pm: After the memo was rescinded, the White House press secretary stated that the funding freeze was still in “full force and effect.” A federal judge is now considering blocking the funding freeze despite the memo that initiated the lawsuit being rescinded.
- Update 1/29 1 pm: The funding freeze memo has been rescinded! While this is good news for now, it is likely not the end. Much is still unknown about what this means. Here is a statement issued by the National Council of Nonprofits. Please stay tuned for more updates and we encourage you to review the “Preparing for a Funding Pause” bullet below.
- Also, please fill out this form if you remain unable to access your federal funding portal.
- Response: Common Good’s partner the National Council of Nonprofits has already responded, filing a Motion for Temporary Restraining Order in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the administration from pausing all federal agency grants and loans. The TRO was filed together with public health and small business leaders and represented in court by Democracy Forward. Learn more.
- Update 1/28 6:30 pm: Following the TRO being filed, Judge pauses Trump funding freeze order until Feb. 3
- There is limited information about the outcome or duration of these freezes, however, we understand that the “re-evaluation” of government spending will be targeting initiatives focused on LGBTQ+ rights, environmental protection, DEI initiatives, foreign aid, and immigration and refugee support.
- As of 1/29 am: Sec. Samuelson of the Vermont Agency of Human Services sent out a message that stated, in part, “until we have more information regarding how the OMB directive will be effectuated, the Agency of Human Services will continue to operate as usual including making payments for personal services, contracts, goods, and subrecipient grants.”
- Press Coverage:
- VTDigger: White House’s mixed messages on federal funding spark more uncertainty for Vermont officials 1/29
- Seven Days: Vermont Delegation Blasts Trump’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Federal Funding Freeze 1/28
- VTDigger: Judge temporarily halts Trump’s federal funding freeze as Vermont officials scramble to respond 1/28
- TAKE ACTION: Please consider sharing how recent executive orders and the funding freeze are impacting your organizations by filling out this form.
Preparing for a Funding Pause:
- Nonprofits with federal funding should review their grant agreements to assess alignment with government priorities, how much is left to spend down, and terms and conditions, including termination requirements.
- Reach out to your federal funding coordinator/contracting officers regarding your funding status. Some agencies may be open to providing advance payment or expediting your upcoming disbursement.
- Develop a contingency plan for paused or reduced funding. Here are some resources:
- What to Do if You Are in a Financial Crisis (Kim Klein in Nonprofit Quarterly)
- Scenario Planning Playbook (Georgia Center for Nonprofits)
- Business Impact Analysis Worksheet (Nonprofit Risk Management Center)
- Reach out to the offices of Vermont’s congressional delegation (Representative Balint, Senator Welch, and Senator Sanders) to inform them of the impact of the funding pause on your organization and their constituents (impact on jobs, economy, etc.).
- CLA: Federal Funding Pause – What We Know and Questions We Have
- NPQ: Nonprofit Legal Compliance in an Unfriendly Political Environment
- JD Supra: New Administration Outlook: How Your Organization Can Adapt to Federal Grant Uncertainty
- Funders: GEO Funders shares Key Strategies for Navigating Federal Funding Threats
Resources for Immigration Actions
Here is a list of resources for immigration actions. Please be mindful that local organizations are experiencing high call volumes and have limited capacity – please refer to existing resources and information wherever possible. If you have additional resources, please share them by emailing [email protected].
- WEBINAR RECORDING – Immigration & ICE: Rights, Obligations, & Support for Businesses: What do the new federal actions mean for your business or non-profit? Does your team know their rights and obligations should ICE come to your place of work? Join an expert panel of Vermont and national leaders to get your questions answered. This webinar is offered as a partnership of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, and the State Treasurer’s Office.
- National Immigration Law Center: A Guide for Employers: What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace
- New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and Lawyers Alliance for New York: Guidance to Nonprofits Regarding Immigration Enforcement
- ACLU-VT
- Migrant Justice
- Language Justice Project: Know Your Rights