Dear {name},

It has been 27 days since President Trump took office, and his administration has arguably done more to challenge the established bureaucracy in less than a month than all presidents combined since John F. Kennedy. Between the fraud, waste, and abuse being uncovered by the newly minted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE); executive orders such as "Progress on the Situation at Our Southern Border," "Progress on the Situation at Our Northern Border," and "Realigning the United States Refugee Program"; and taking a blowtorch to the World Trade Organization by imposing reciprocal tariffs globally, Trump has thrown a wrench into the machinery of globalization and is reversing neoliberal policies.

After uncovering billions that went to organizations supporting unprecedented levels of immigration during the Biden administration, President Trump halted payments to dozens of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). For instance, Catholic Charities received over $3 billion in government grants in the last 10 years, of which $2 billion were disbursed during the Biden administration. A year ago, I criticized my local city council for giving Church World Service (CWS) $250,000 in American Rescue Plan funds to resettle more refugees in Lancaster, PA. At the time, I noted that CWS had received just over $150 million in federal grants in 2022. In 2023, CWS received over $180 million in federal grants. This contrasts with 2020, the last year of Trump's first term, when they received just under $74 million from all revenue sources.

Many of the NGOs that transformed human trafficking into an art form are now laying off staff. CWS has furloughed 65 staffers and is preparing for long-term layoffs. Although it is never good to see people lose their jobs, I believe this will be a net positive for the country.

What CWS and other NGOs have done is divert needed dollars that should be going to America's most vulnerable communities and give them to organizations that get paid per head to resettle "refugees." The CEO of CWS makes over $384,000 per year and appears unconcerned about the externalities his organization creates.

In the end, what determines the strength, vitality, and sustainability of a society is social cohesion. This is what NGOs such as CWS, Catholic Charities, and Lutheran Refugee Services have been working for decades to undermine.

Onward,

Kevin Lynn

Executive Director, Institute for Sound Public Policy

Founder, U.S. Tech Workers