Coalition of 150 Groups Backs Think Tank Against Trump Legal Threats

The controversy centers on a July report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) that found no evidence the administration’s use of the National Guard in the capital had any impact on reducing violent crime. Following the release, a lawyer representing Donald Trump threatened to sue the nonpartisan research organization.

Spearheaded by Nonprofits Together, the coalition includes major advocates such as the ACLU, Greenpeace USA, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. In a joint statement, the signatories argued that the move is part of a broader, systemic effort by the current administration to suppress organizations that defend the rule of law and challenge government policy. The coalition asserted that the right to publish evidence-based analysis remains a bedrock of American democracy, regardless of which party holds power.

CAP president Neera Tanden dismissed the threatened legal action as a baseless attempt to stifle independent inquiry. She maintained that the organization’s work is grounded in rigorous data and that the threat of litigation will not deter their research. The coalition warned that using the legal system to intimidate researchers risks replacing objective information with political distortions, ultimately damaging the public square.