Grantee order increased scrutiny but did not create the federal lobbying ban it invokes
Reporting and findings
- reported
Holland & Knight's legal analysis explains that the Byrd Amendment already bars use of appropriated funds for specified award-related lobbying and that the August order heightens grantee scrutiny; it does not convert all political advocacy by a recipient into prohibited spending.
- Holland & Knight: Byrd Is the Word for Federal GranteesByrd Amendment scope and August 2025 enforcement implications
- documented
On 2025-08-28, Donald Trump directed agencies to review grants and enforce restrictions on using appropriated funds for lobbying and partisan political activity.
Corrects claim:batch-200:federal-grantee-political-activity-order-2025- The White House: Use of Appropriated Funds for Illegal Lobbying and Partisan Political Activity by Federal GranteesOperative text of the cited action
Summary and current status
The Byrd Amendment already restricted use of appropriated award funds for covered lobbying. The new order intensified review and enforcement; lawful advocacy outside that statutory scope is a separate question.
Enhanced review ordered under existing grant-law restrictions; no new statutory offense created.
People and organizations
- Use of Appropriated Funds for Illegal Lobbying and Partisan Political Activity by Federal Granteesexecutive action under legal and impact review
- Donald J. Trumppresident who issued the action
Relationships in this file
- Donald J. Trumpordered grantee political-activity review throughUse of Appropriated Funds for Illegal Lobbying and Partisan Political Activity by Federal Grantees