Surveys of nonprofit and religious leaders show most strongly oppose loosening the law, fearing it would undermine the credibility of all nonprofits and allow campaign operatives to abuse 501(c)(3) tax status by setting up organizations that are purely political. While nonprofit leaders characterized the president’s order Thursday as at least partially symbolic, some decried what they described as a move that drags the country’s charitable and religious organizations into partisan politics.

"Despite the labeling, the portion of the Executive Order regarding the Johnson Amendment has nothing to do with free speech or freedom of religion. And, contrary to President Trump’s assertions at the signing ceremony, the Johnson Amendment has nothing to do with talking about policy issues of the day — it only prevents 501(c)(3) organizations from partisan electioneering," the National Council of Nonprofits said in a statement.