Anthony Romero, the longtime head of the American Civil Liberties Union, says corporate executives are failing to confront some of the most difficult political issues facing the United States. While he acknowledges that his position differs from that of a chief executive accountable to shareholders, he believes business leaders still have a responsibility to defend democratic institutions.
Executives have generally been cautious about expressing their views during President Trump’s second term. tariffs have disrupted supply chains, while immigration raids have affected labor markets. Law firms and media companies have also reached settlements and agreements in lawsuits that experts considered winnable. Romero has additionally pointed to repeated challenges to election integrity, including questions raised about a midterm race in Alaska and thousands of ballots in California.
Romero, 61, has led the ACLU for 25 years. He has also observed that some technology billionaires who supported the organization during Trump’s first term have not made comparable donations during the current period.
The ACLU’s revenue more than doubled compared with the previous fiscal year during the 2016 presidential campaign and the first months of Trump’s first administration. Funding declined during the Biden years and rose again before Trump’s return to the White House, though the increase was about half as large as the earlier jump.
Romero oversees approximately 2,100 employees and more than $550 million in contributions. Despite those resources, he says the organization must remain selective about the cases it takes on. “This is not a church,” he said. “Prayer is not enough. You have to have a plan.”
Sources: The New York Times Business.