Non-profit

Feds for Freedom

Website:

www.fedsforfreedom.org

Location:

Reno, NV

Tax ID:

87-4126760

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Type:

Employee and Contractor Coalition

Formation:

2021 1

Co-Founder and President:

Marcus Thornton

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Feds for Freedom is a coalition of about 9,000 right-leaning federal employees and contractors founded in 2021 that is dedicated to reforming federal service to make it more accountable and transparent. 1 2

In May 2024, the right-of-center Heritage Foundation gave Feds for Freedom a $100,000 Innovation Prize. 3 Feds for Freedom is among more than 100 conservative organizations involved in the Heritage-organized Project 2025 coalition project. 4

The organization began as the Feds for Medical Freedom, which challenged the Biden administration‘s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees. 5

Background

Feds for Freedom is a conservative-leaning organization for federal employees that is dedicated to reforming the federal workforce to make it more accountable and transparent by working within the government. 1 The organization was previously known as Feds for Medical Freedom, as it was focused on challenging COVID-19 restrictions, but changed its name to Feds for Freedom in September 2023 to expand its scope and mission. 5

The organization was founded in 2021 and has about 9,000 federal employees as members. It is run by volunteers with full-time jobs in the federal government. 2

The group clarifies that it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the federal government. Further, it says participation by board members is not related to the performance of their official duties in the federal government. 6

The organization has more than two dozen local chapters. 5

Feds for Freedom is among more than 100 conservative organizations involved in Project 2025, which has set forth an agenda and federal staff in case a conservative administration is elected in the 2024 presidential election. 4

COVID-19 Vaccine Litigation

Originally called Feds for Medical Freedom, Feds for Freedom challenged and won an injunction against the Biden administration‘s COVID-19 vaccine mandates in a U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals case that blocked implementation of the mandates. 5 In December 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the lower court injunction because President Joe Biden had revoked the vaccine mandate. 7 8

Feds for Freedom supported a bill by U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL), the Public Health Emergency Accountability Act, that would allow public health emergencies declared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to automatically terminate after 90 days. 9

Pronoun Policies

In May 2024, the Foundation gave Feds for Freedom a $100,000 Innovation Prize for the organization’s project known as “The Pronoun Fight–A Fight for Truth, Sanity, and Freedom of Religion initiative.” The project exposed how the federal government spent millions of tax dollars on “pronoun policies.” 3

The organization opposes Biden administration policies that require employees to comply with all pronouns requested by coworkers, and allowing employees to use restrooms based on their chosen gender identities. Feds for Freedom challenged the policy in federal court based on First Amendment protections of freedom of speech and religious liberty. 3

People

Marcus Thornton is the president, co-founder and board member of Feds for Freedom. He has been a political officer in the U.S. State Department (DOS) since 2016. He was formerly a Border Patrol agent and held other jobs in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from 2007 through 2016. Thornton has more than 1,000 mission-flight hours as a crewmember with DHS and as a major in the United States Air Force Auxiliary. Thornton speaks three foreign languages. He received three Meritorious Honor Awards for his work defending human rights and rescuing victims of human trafficking and religious persecution. 6

James E. Erdman is the vice president, co-founder, and board member of Feds for Freedom. He served in the Army and the National Guard while earning a bachelor’s in biochemistry at Western Oregon University. After enrolling in a graduate biochemistry program at Oregon State University, he was reactivated in the military after the 9/11 attacks. He later worked in the private sector in biotech and bioinformatics for six years before returning to the federal government with the State Department regionally in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. He speaks Mandarin and Arabic. 6

Brian C. Lombardi is a co-founder and board member. He has worked for DHS since 2010. He began as a Border Patrol agent at the Lordsburg, New Mexico station. He was transferred to the Office of Field Operations in 2014. He is a Customs and Border Protection officer at the Port of Las Vegas, and was a recipient of five Joint Award Commission Awards. 6

Melissa Bruckner is the treasurer of Feds for Freedom. Bruckner has worked at the U.S. Social Security Administration since 2005. She has received multiple awards, including commissioner and deputy commissioner awards for her work in combatting fraud in the disability program, and for helping to rebuild the agency’s disability operation in Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yeshiva University and a law degree from New York Law School. 6

Ron Severson is a board member of the group. Has worked with the U.S. Navy providing installation guidance and readiness to surface ships in multiple locations through his work within NAVSEA since 2008. He helped in the modernization of ships, including cruisers, destroyers, carriers, and amphibs. He has a bachelor’s degree in physics from Fresno State University. 6

References

  1. “Feds for Freedom.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/fedsforfreedom/
  2. Athayde, Whitney. “The 2024 Heritage Innovation Prize Bestowed on Feds for Freedom.” Philanthropy Daily. May 23, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024.https://philanthropydaily.com/the-2024-heritage-innovation-prize-bestowed-on-feds-for-freedom/
  3. Press Release. “The Heritage Foundation Announces New Innovation Prize for Feds for Freedom.” May 20, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.heritage.org/press/the-heritage-foundation-announces-new-innovation-prize-feds-freedom
  4. Harper, Casey. “Conservatives prepare for potential Trump presidency.” The Center Square. February 20, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_94815a4a-d011-11ee-9955-4fabc1466569.html
  5. PR Newswire. “Feds For Medical Freedom Expands Mission, Announces Rebrand to Feds For Freedom.” ABC 27. September 8, 2023. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.abc27.com/business/press-releases/cision/20230908DA04639/feds-for-medical-freedom-expands-mission-announces-rebrand-to-feds-for-freedom/
  6. “Who We Are.” Feds for Freedom. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.fedsforfreedom.org/who-we-are
  7. Cision. “Feds for Freedom Announces, Federal Vaccine Mandate Challenge to Continue as Supreme Court Rules on Procedural Grounds.” December 11, 2023. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://fox2now.com/business/press-releases/cision/20231211DA90866/feds-for-freedom-announces-federal-vaccine-mandate-challenge-to-continue-as-supreme-court-rules-on-procedural-grounds/
  8. Katz, Eric. “Anti-vaccine feds still fighting for damages over Biden’s federal employee mandate.” Government Executive. February 20, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2024/02/despite-losses-group-still-fights-damages-over-bidens-federal-employee-vaccine-mandate/394300/
  9. Press Release. “Rep. Barry Moore introduces Public Health Emergency Accountability Act.” January 26, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://barrymoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-barry-moore-introduces-public-health-emergency-accountability-act
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 2023

  • Available Filings

    No filings available.

    Feds for Freedom

    401 RYLAND ST STE 200A
    Reno, NV 89502-1643