Hearing on Foreign Influence in U.S. Nonprofits Scheduled
The House Ways and Means Committee, under Republican leadership, is set to conduct a hearing on foreign influence in American nonprofits this Tuesday morning. This session is expected to include various NGOs and far-left funding networks.
At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Chairman Jason Smith will lead the discussion titled “Foreign Influence in America’s Nonprofits: Uncovering the Threat from Beijing and Beyond.” The hearing will be available for online viewing on the committee’s website.
Among the witnesses expected to appear are Scott Walter, president of the Capital Research Center; Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust; Adam Thorne, CEO of Naravane; Bruce Dubinsky, founder of Dubinsky Consulting; and Robert Wiseman, co-founder of Public Citizen.
A press release from the committee states that the focus will be on “how foreign actors funneled millions of dollars through a network of tax-exempt organizations to create, aid, and incite chaos and illegal activity across the country.”
This hearing will investigate a network of organizations funded by Neville Roy Singham, an American-born tech entrepreneur who identifies as a Marxist-Leninist and resides in Shanghai. Singham supports various nonprofits such as the People’s Forum, Code Pink, Breakthrough BT Media, Answer Coalition, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. These organizations reportedly collaborate with the Democratic Socialists of America to deploy socialist and communist advocates in efforts that allegedly disrupt federal immigration enforcement.
“For too long, foreign actors have exploited our tax-exempt sector, creating division and confusion,” Smith stated in a post on social media. “Today, we want to send a clear message: we are not going to overlook this anymore.”
Over the past year, reports have indicated a pattern of coordinated protests from socialist and communist factions, revealing a structured ecosystem of funding, media support, ideological promotion, and grassroots mobilization that aligns with the interests of foreign governments, particularly China.
“Tax-exempt status is a privilege, not a right,” Smith emphasized. “Nonprofit organizations should take their responsibilities seriously and not serve as instruments for hostile foreign powers.”
The committee is diving deeper into how foreign funds and networks affect nonprofit organizations, aiming to unveil connections to the Chinese Communist Party and those like Singham.
Just before the hearing, Smith amplified the inquiry into Singham, who is accused of spreading chaos and Chinese propaganda linked to foreign state interests.
In a separate communication, Smith has requested records from Tricontinental and Breakthrough, cautioning that these entities may be functioning outside their intended purposes or even acting as unregistered foreign agents while inciting domestic unrest under the pretense of journalism and research.
Investigators allege that Singham’s network is a pivotal part of a foreign influence strategy that misuses U.S. nonprofit legislation to inject anti-American narratives into protests and foster societal division. The inquiry aims to outline how foreign money flows into nonprofit groups that generate ideological materials and media coverage to orchestrate protests on American streets.
“If the evidence confirms that these organizations are merely propaganda channels aligned with the Chinese Communist Party while benefiting from U.S. tax status, their privileges should be revoked immediately,” Smith concluded. “We will track the funds and demand accountability to prevent the Chinese government from taking advantage of our tax-exempt system.”
