House Committee Investigates Foreign Influence in American Nonprofits

The Republican-led House Committee on Ways and Means is launching a probe into foreign influence within American nonprofit organizations at a hearing scheduled for Tuesday morning. The investigation aims to expose how foreign actors may be channeling millions of dollars through tax-exempt organizations to fuel disruption and potentially illegal activities across the United States.

Committee Chair Jason Smith will preside over the hearing titled “Foreign Influence in American Non-profits: Unmasking Threats from Beijing and Beyond,” which begins at 10 a.m. and will be livestreamed on the committee’s website for public viewing.

“For too long, foreign actors have gotten away with abusing our tax-exempt sector to sow division and chaos in our country,” Smith stated on social media Tuesday morning. “Today, we’re putting them on notice. Going to be a late night in China for Shanghai Singham!”

The witness panel features a diverse group of experts, including Capital Research Center president Scott Walter, Americans for Public Trust Executive Director Caitlin Sutherland, Narravance CEO Adam Sohn, consultant Bruce Dubinsky of Dubinsky Consulting, and Public Citizen co-founder Robert Weissman.

Of particular interest to the committee is a network of nonprofits allegedly funded by Neville Roy Singham, an American-born technology entrepreneur and self-described Marxist-Leninist now residing in Shanghai. According to committee documents, Singham has provided financial backing to several organizations including the People’s Forum, CodePink, BreakThrough BT Media, the ANSWER Coalition, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

These organizations have reportedly collaborated with Democratic Socialists of America to organize street protests targeting federal immigration law enforcement and other institutions. The committee appears concerned that these activities may represent foreign influence operations designed to create domestic unrest.

This investigation follows a year of reporting by Fox News that documented what they describe as coordinated protest activities by socialist, communist, and Marxist groups. Their reporting suggests a sophisticated ecosystem of funding, media amplification, and street-level mobilization that potentially aligns with the strategic objectives of foreign governments, particularly China.

The hearing comes amid heightened concerns about foreign interference in American institutions. While China has traditionally focused its influence operations on academic, research, and corporate entities, this investigation signals growing scrutiny of potential foreign involvement in civil society and nonprofit sectors.

The tax-exempt status of nonprofits makes them particularly sensitive targets for investigation, as organizations receiving such benefits must comply with specific regulations regarding their activities and funding sources. Foreign funding of domestic political activities has long been restricted under various U.S. laws, though enforcement has proven challenging.

Critics of the investigation may question whether it represents legitimate oversight or partisan politics. However, concerns about foreign influence operations have become increasingly bipartisan in recent years, with both Democrats and Republicans expressing alarm about different vectors of foreign interference in American democracy.

The hearing could potentially lead to legislative proposals aimed at increasing transparency requirements for nonprofits that receive foreign funding or imposing additional restrictions on how such organizations can operate within the United States.

As Congress continues to navigate complex questions about foreign influence, the nonprofit sector may find itself facing new scrutiny and potential regulatory changes depending on the findings that emerge from Tuesday’s hearing.