Bessent's War On Left-Wing NGOs May Strip Soros Network, SPLC, And CAIR Of Tax-Exempt Status: Report

A Treasury Department task force is preparing to review the tax-exempt status of several high-profile non-governmental organizations (NGOs) suspected of engaging in political activity, illegal conduct, or support for radical groups, according to a report in the New York Post.

The review, led by multiple agencies within the Treasury, could result in the loss of 501(c)(3) status for organizations including George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Internal deliberations indicate that officials are drafting a framework to audit NGOs that may have exploited their tax-exempt status for improper purposes.

Three sources familiar with the matter told the Post that Treasury officials are treating the review with urgency, with one describing the department as "like a dog with a bone." The same source suggested that many NGOs and their donor networks could be "on borrowed time."

The push comes amid a broader effort by the Trump administration to crack down on far-left extremism and foreign influence networks. Last October, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that a list of nonprofits was being compiled for review. Earlier this month, Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller addressed delegations on the rise of far-left terrorism.

In a statement this week, Bessent emphasized the administration’s stance against far-left extremism. "Far-left extremists, their fronts, and their enablers should be on notice: We will bring the full weight of our economic tools to bear," he said. "Political terrorism has no place in our society, and we will continue to cut the financial lifelines of these groups until they are eliminated."

The Treasury Department has already taken action, sanctioning three NGOs this week for allegedly supporting far-left terrorism. While the names of the sanctioned groups were not disclosed, the administration has previously targeted networks linked to Cuba and China, including those associated with Marxist billionaire Neville Roy Singham, who U.S. officials accuse of facilitating subversive activity.

The coordinated effort reflects a broader strategy to dismantle the financial, legal, and organizational infrastructure supporting far-left activist networks. The administration has framed these groups as contributors to unrest, including riots and property damage, though no specific evidence linking the targeted NGOs to recent unrest was provided in the report.

Analysts suggest that the effectiveness of the campaign could be measured by reductions in funding, weaker organizational capacity, and the inability to sustain coordinated protests. The absence of large-scale riots this summer has been cited by some as an early sign that the task force’s efforts may already be having an impact.