Fearing that the Trump administration will shutter the Combined Federal Campaign, one the largest employee charitable giving program in the world, a group of lawmakers is pushing back.
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, on Thursday sent a letter signed by 39 other House members to Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, urging that the program should be preserved.
The program, which has raised more than $9 billion since President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order to create it in 1961, allows federal employees to support nonprofit organizations through either a one-time gift or a payroll deduction.
The entire Maryland House delegation signed on. Maryland U.S. Sens. Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen are co-leading the effort.
“For decades the CFC has provided tremendous value to our nation’s charities and vulnerable populations ranging from sick children to families on the brink of poverty,” the letter reads.
“In light of the strong return on investments delivered by the CFC and the lifeline it represents for charities across the nation, we urge you to preserve this vital program.”
An OPM media representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The CFC OPM issued a stop-work order halting preparations for the launch of the 2025 giving cycle on August 26, 2025. While the department ultimately allowed employees to donate, OPM officials told nonprofits involved in the program that they might shut it down, according to the letter.
OPM recently decommissioned the program’s online portal, which now displays a message urging participants to download their records before they are removed.
Raskin, who represents most of Montgomery County and a small part of Prince George’s, said the CFC has saved the federal government more than $400 million over the past five years. More than that, he continued, it strengthens the nation’s social fabric.
Tens of thousands of federal workers live and work in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Raskin said many of his constituents are former federal workers who donated to the fund and are now relying on support from the charities they contributed to after losing their jobs in Trump administration cuts.
“It’s a totally voluntary program. Nobody has to give a penny if they don’t want to,” Raskin said. “This just seems like another effort to break the bonds of solidarity and compassion in society.”
Comments
Welcome to The Banner's subscriber-only commenting community. Please review our community guidelines.