U.S. non-profits sue government agency over terrorism rule

Community Action, Nov 22, 2004

WASHINGTON -- Led by the American Civil Liberties Union 13 national non-profit organizations launched a suit challenging the U.S. governments requirement that the Combined Federal Campaign check their employees and expenditures against several government watch lists for "terrorist activities." The CFC is operated by the Offices of Personnel Management that collects and allocates contributrions of federal employees, to more than 10,000 charities.

The organizations participating in the suit include Breast Cancer Action, NAACP, National Council of Nonprofit Associations and the Sierra Club. Others are expected to join.

The ACLU calls the requirement vague and misguided, that "ask us to become law enforcement officers for the federal government." The group adds, "The CFC policy threatens to disrupt a crucial network of charities that are dedicated to promoting and protecting American lives and values."

The ACLU has determined that "watch lists" the government uses are error-prone and do not provide any effective recourse to individuals to correct those errors. One watch list was found to include the names of several Senators.

"If the government were to ask us to do something to ensure that we were not inadvertently supporting terrorists that was clear and definitive we would not hesitate to comply," Hilary O. Shelton, director of the NAACP's Washington bureau, said at a news conference yesterday. "But that has not happened here."

Over 1.3 million federal employees contribute through the CFC. Donations are deducted from their paychecks and forwarded to their designated charities. Last year, the drive raised $248 million. 202-457-0800