New Budget Bill Proposal Grants Trump Unfettered Authority to Suppress Dissent

WASHINGTON — The House Ways and Means Committee has, along party lines, endorsed budget-reconciliation legislation reviving controversial provisions from a previously shelved bill. H.R. 9495 could grant the executive branch unfettered authority to strip nonprofits of their tax-exempt status by labeling them as “terrorist supporting organizations.” Despite public backlash resulting in significant opposition, this measure has resurfaced, potentially endangering dissenting voices and undermining democratic principles. Experts warn that such sweeping powers pose grave risks for civil society and free speech nationwide.