Investigation Requested into Nonprofit Organizations
Nineteen Republican attorneys general have formally requested that the Justice Department look into numerous nonprofit organizations in the U.S. They believe these groups may have violated the federal Foreign Agents Act, having received approximately $2 billion in foreign donations over the last decade.
The inquiry, aimed at Attorney General Pam Bondi and Justice Department National Security Division Director John Eisenberg, was sparked by reports of a nonprofit accepting funding from five foreign climate change foundations. A letter outlining these concerns was first obtained by a news outlet.
According to the letter, the funding might have been used to improperly influence U.S. energy policies without complying with the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Concerns Over Foreign Influence
The letter outlines that the attorney general has identified over 150 U.S.-based organizations for the Justice Department to investigate, citing “substantial evidence” that several of these are violating FARA by participating in funding and advocacy efforts to shape U.S. energy policy and jeopardize national energy independence.
The five foreign organizations included—Oak Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, KR Foundation, and Loud Foundation—were brought to light by a conservative watchdog group. These organizations have been directing funds to smaller entities for the past decade.
The initiative was led by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who claims that the foreign foundations used their financial contributions to direct climate-related activities and sway U.S. energy legislation.
Interestingly, one of the foreign entities mentioned, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, reportedly has connections to the Chinese Communist Party, the attorney general noted.
Additionally, this request follows a prior appeal made in December 2025 by over 20 state attorneys general for a FARA investigation into two U.S.-based groups linked to CIFF.
The Department of Justice has been contacted for comments on the matter.
Understanding FARA Implications
Under FARA regulations, organizations must register if they act as an “agent” for a “foreign principal” and engage in specific political actions. The attorney general argued that these foreign entities qualify as such since they are registered in Switzerland, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.
Moreover, the activities of the mentioned nonprofits seem not to fall under any exemptions outlined in the Act. It was pointed out that proving eligibility for an exemption lies with the individual seeking it.
