Washington, D.C. – December 20, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Justice is under increasing pressure to investigate several environmental advocacy organizations and nonprofits for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), amid allegations that they are advancing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) interests through lobbying and policy influence in the United States.
A coalition of 26 Republican state attorneys general, led by Montana’s Austin Knudsen, recently urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to examine groups like Energy Foundation China (EF-China) and the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI). These organizations, registered as U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits, are accused of receiving funding linked to CCP-aligned entities while engaging in political activities to undermine American energy independence, such as promoting rapid fossil fuel phase-outs and green energy transitions that benefit Chinese supply chains.
Critics point to EF-China’s Beijing-based operations, staff with former CCP affiliations, and grants to U.S. groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Rocky Mountain Institute, which have influenced policies cited in Biden-era regulations. Earlier congressional inquiries, including letters from lawmakers like Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. James Comer, highlighted similar concerns about NRDC’s ties to Chinese officials and its advocacy aligning with Beijing’s narrative on clean energy leadership.
Proponents of the probes argue that these tax-exempt entities exploit U.S. charitable systems to push agendas that weaken domestic fossil fuels while bolstering China’s dominance in solar panels, EV batteries, and rare earths. Groups deny direct CCP control, asserting compliance with U.S. laws and independent grant-making.
As national security experts warn of asymmetric influence operations, the DOJ has yet to confirm an active investigation, but calls from Congress and state officials continue to mount for transparency and potential FARA enforcement.
References:
- https://dojmt.gov/attorney-general-knudsen-requests-doj-to-investigate-china-linked-energy-activist-organizations
- https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-study-exposes-green-energy-orgs-ties-ccp-interests-while-undermining-us
- https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cruz-comer-insist-doj-investigate-radical-environmental-organizations-accepting-money-while-skirting-fara
