Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CodePink, confirmed that her organization received an inquiry from the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regarding its trip to Cuba in March. This inquiry is described as an administrative subpoena and is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to scrutinize nonprofit organizations involved in foreign policy and activism. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the need for nonprofits to ensure accountability when their resources are used in ways that may support unlawful activities.
Bessent stated that the IRS will require nonprofits to know their grant recipients and that organizations could be held responsible for the actions of those they fund. The inquiry into CodePink's Cuba trip is part of a larger examination of whether activist organizations are complying with U.S. laws, including sanctions against Cuba.
Benjamin noted that the inquiry was serious, as it requested detailed information about the trip, including logistical details and activities of participants. She mentioned that approximately 170 people participated in the convoy to Cuba, and the inquiry includes around a dozen specific questions about the trip. Benjamin also confirmed that the group brought humanitarian supplies worth approximately $600,000 to Cuba.
Despite the scrutiny, Benjamin expressed determination to continue their activities, framing the inquiry as an intimidation tactic aimed at discouraging Americans from traveling to Cuba or engaging in humanitarian missions. Meanwhile, Hasan Piker, a political streamer involved in the trip, stated he has not received any inquiry from the Treasury Department.
