Three weeks ago, the Trump administration sent out an order to the executive branch calling for federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance” that could conflict with President Donald Trump’s agenda.
The order primarily targeted federal dollars doled out to so-called non-governmental organizations, often called “NGOs.”
The effect on many NGOs was immediate. Many started complaining that they would not be able to meet payroll or survive without a constant inflow of government largesse. Thus, in recent weeks, one hears repeatedly of layoffs of taxpayer-funded employees as thousands of ostensibly non-governmental organizations find themselves cut off from their main source of income: the taxpayer gravy train.
In this, these NGOs are no different from any other recipient of government money which claims to be private, but is decidedly not private in the economic sense. These organizations, whether “charitable” non-profits or for-profit weapons makers, only exist as they do because they feed off the taxpayer-funded government trough.
Fortunately, this is becoming better known. The controversy over the layoffs at these NGOs—and the related media coverage—has helped to highlight just how immense is this taxpayer funded network of private-in-name-only organizations that do the federal government’s bidding. […]
— Read More: mises.org
