Resources and Updates: Executive Orders and Federal Funding Freeze Impacting Nonprofits

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:

Preparing for a Funding Pause:

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].