House Judiciary subcommittee hears competing claims over federal grants to nonprofits

The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight convened at the U.S. Capitol to examine federal grants to nonprofit organizations, with Republican members accusing some grantees—including organizations linked to the Open Society network—of using taxpayer funds to advance a political agenda and Democratic members and witnesses defending the role of nonprofits in delivering services and protecting victims.

The hearing opened with the panel’s Republican leadership framing the session as an investigation into what they described as “leftist nonprofit networks” that “exploit federal tax dollars to advance a radical agenda.” Chairman Van Drew said, “Who the hell is George Soros?” and repeatedly asserted that federal grants had been used to support groups that push policies many Americans oppose. Ranking Member Representative Crockett and Representative Jamie Raskin, speaking for committee Democrats, called the hearing partisan and defended the work of nonprofits that partner with government on criminal-justice reform, victim services and international aid. Crockett said the hearing “sounds like it was ripped from a conspiracy blog.”

Why it matters: Members on…