No Halo News · Sourced development
Freedom From Religion Foundation reported filing an appellate brief opposing a challenge to the Johnson Amendment
Freedom From Religion Foundation said it filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in litigation brought by National Religious Broadcasters and allied religious organizations challenging the federal restriction on electioneering by tax-exempt organizations. FFRF argued that the plaintiffs lacked a credible threat of enforcement and that their constitutional challenge should fail. The filing is advocacy, not a court ruling.
Status matters. This page records a sourced development, not a completed No Halo investigation. An allegation is not a finding. Dismissals, settlements, judgments, corrections and final outcomes remain distinct.
Donor relevance
Why this matters
The appeal concerns the federal rule restricting electoral campaign activity by charities and churches. Its eventual outcome could affect nonprofit political activity, enforcement exposure and donor expectations across the charitable sector.
Attribution
Who reported or established this
FFRF reported the filing and characterized the plaintiffs’ enforcement concerns as remote. Those positions are FFRF’s legal arguments and are not findings by the appellate court.
Evidence limits
What remains unverified
No Halo has not independently reviewed the appellate docket or complete brief and has not assessed the merits of either side’s constitutional arguments. No final appellate decision was located.
Right of reply
Organization response
FFRF said the challenge was unfounded and argued that the plaintiffs had not shown a realistic threat that the IRS would revoke their tax exemptions. The opposing parties’ response to FFRF’s brief was not located in the consulted material.
Classification
How No Halo records this event
Event type: Filing. Current state: Open. No Halo preserves the current procedural state rather than treating every mention as a finding.
Published September 28, 2026 · Last verified September 30, 2026. See an error or a later outcome? Submit a correction or right of reply.