Full Breakdown
Decline of the Combined Federal Campaign Amid Trump Administration Challenges
12/26/2025, 12:00:15 AM
Overview of the Combined Federal Campaign
The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), a federal charity drive established in 1982 under President Ronald Reagan's Executive Order 12353, has historically raised significant funds for various nonprofit organizations. Over the years, the CFC has garnered more than $9 billion from federal employees. However, recent reports indicate that the campaign is experiencing a notable decline in donations and operational challenges, particularly following actions taken during the Trump administration.
Current Challenges Facing the CFC
According to a report by Meryl Kornfield in The Washington Post, the CFC has faced a steep decline in contributions, with only $23 million raised by December 20, 2025. This figure is significantly lower than the over $40.5 million raised during the same period in previous years. Contributing factors include the loss of nearly 300,000 federal employees due to government downsizing and the impact of a 43-day government shutdown earlier in the year. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) had also paused planning for the campaign in late August, raising concerns about its effectiveness.
Concerns from Nonprofit Leaders
Ann Hollingsworth, vice president of government affairs at the Nonprofit Alliance, expressed apprehension regarding the future of the CFC. She noted that if contractors are not allowed to fulfill their roles in the final weeks of January, the campaign's success could be severely compromised. Hollingsworth highlighted the challenges posed by the shutdown and other constraints affecting the nonprofit sector.
Jennifer Ward, an Air Force veteran and organizer for the CFC, echoed these concerns. She stated, "The main concern that I have is that, come January, we can start off and have this great campaign for the next 31 days, but there's no outreach coordinator to ramp us up again. There’s no charity events that we can have. The resources are extremely limited, and if there’s no contracts, it's like we’re being blindsided… and the charities can't do anything about it."
Official Responses and Future Outlook
The OPM announced an extension of the CFC through January, but the uncertainty surrounding contractor agreements has left many charities worried about the campaign's overall effectiveness. The lack of outreach and support resources could hinder the ability to mobilize federal employees for contributions.
As the CFC approaches its final weeks, the implications of the Trump administration's policies and the recent government shutdown continue to resonate within the nonprofit community, raising questions about the future viability of this long-standing charitable initiative.
Verbatim Quotes
- "If the contractors in the final four weeks in January are not allowed to do their work, it's a question of how successful can we make the CFC campaign after we've already been hit with a delay because of the shutdown and are dealing with other constraints in the nonprofit community." — Ann Hollingsworth, Vice President of Government Affairs, Nonprofit Alliance
- "The main concern that I have is that, come January, we can start off and have this great campaign for the next 31 days, but there's no outreach coordinator to ramp us up again." — Jennifer Ward, Organizer, Combined Federal Campaign
