In a bold and controversial move that has ignited fierce debate across political lines, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has introduced legislation aimed at curbing what he calls “secretive funding of disruptive protests” by billionaire philanthropist George Soros and similar figures. The bill, quietly filed on December 13, 2025, would classify such financial support as organized crime under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, potentially allowing federal authorities to freeze associated accounts overnight and prosecute donors as racketeers. Hegseth’s office confirmed the initiative in a statement to Fox News, admitting the measure is designed to “expose and dismantle networks that undermine American stability.” If passed, the law could reshape free speech and protest rights, targeting organizations like Soros’ Open Society Foundations, which have funded progressive causes including Black Lives Matter and environmental activism.

The proposal stems from Hegseth’s longstanding criticism of Soros, whom he has accused of “bankrolling chaos” in interviews on his former Fox News show. “We’ve seen protests turn violent, cities burn, and lives destroyed—all fueled by shadowy money from abroad,” Hegseth said in a December 14 press release. “This bill admits what we’ve known: these aren’t grassroots movements; they’re coordinated operations that threaten our democracy. RICO was made for this.” The legislation would amend the 1970 RICO Act—originally designed for mafia syndicates—to include “foreign-influenced protest funding” as predicate offenses, allowing asset forfeiture and triple damages in civil suits. Critics argue it’s a thinly veiled attack on dissent, while supporters hail it as “long overdue accountability.”

Soros, 95, the Hungarian-born investor whose foundations have donated over $32 billion to liberal causes worldwide, has not responded, but Open Society spokesperson Laura Silber called it “McCarthyism reborn.” “This is a dangerous assault on free expression—admitting political bias in law enforcement,” she told The New York Times. The bill’s text, obtained by Politico, defines “disruptive protests” as those involving “violence, property damage, or obstruction of public order,” with funding thresholds as low as $10,000 triggering investigations. If enacted, the Justice Department could seize assets from donors like Soros, who has given $100 million+ to U.S. progressive groups since 2020.

Hegseth, confirmed in February 2025 amid his own controversies (including 200+ sexual misconduct allegations, all denied), has made “America First” his mantra, from Pentagon purges to this domestic front. The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), has 42 GOP backers but faces steep odds in a divided Congress. Democrats like Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) slammed it as “authoritarian overreach”: “Admitting they want to criminalize protest funding? This is McCarthyism for the MAGA era.”

Legal experts warn of First Amendment challenges. “RICO’s broad, but applying it to political donations? That’s a stretch that could backfire,” ACLU attorney Vera Eidelman told CNN. Soros’ funding, often through 501(c)3 nonprofits, has backed BLM ($33 million in 2020) and pro-Palestine groups, fueling Hegseth’s ire amid campus protests.

As the bill heads to committee, the admission has polarized America: Trump allies cheer “finally draining the swamp,” while civil rights groups vow lawsuits. Hegseth’s move? A power play that could freeze dissent—or freeze his legacy in court.