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A century-old Nebraska nonprofit that receives federal funding to provide substance abuse and mental health services found itself caught up in a political firestorm when a Trump administration official amplified claims, without evidence, that it was engaged in money laundering. “It’s been a little bit of a hectic 24 hours,” said Chris Tonniges, president and CEO of Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska. Michael Flynn, who briefly served as national security adviser to President Donald Trump during his first term in office, first made the unfounded allegation on social media Saturday.
Flynn shared images of millions in payments made to Lutheran Family Services affiliates across the country, including $3.3 million to Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, suggesting they amounted to “money laundering.” The allegation was then amplified when Flynn’s post was reshared by Elon Musk, the businessman who is leading Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency.
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“The @DOGE team is rapidly shutting down these illegal payments,” Musk wrote . Tonniges was not familiar with the payments listed but said they were most likely for substance abuse, mental health and behavioral health services — the only services for which his agency receives direct payments from the federal government. The charity also receives indirect funding through its national parent organization to help resettle and assist refugees and other immigrants who are in the country legally.
And it receives funding from the State of Nebraska and other local agencies to provide family services, including foster care and the facilitation of adoptions. Chris Tonniges, CEO of Lutheran Family Services, The posts on X by Flynn and Musk led to negative calls that were “disheartening and disappointing, to say the least,” Tonniges said. It also produced calls from supporters who questioned whether Flynn and Musk understood Lutheran Family Services and the assistance it provides for those in need.
The most “heartbreaking” calls, Tonniges said, were from clients currently being helped by the agency who worried that its funding was about to get cut off by the Trump administration. One mother of a child receiving therapy services said she was concerned that the nonprofit would no longer be there for her son. Tonniges offered her assurances services would continue.
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska was first founded 133 years ago by two Lutheran pastors to operate orphanages in Omaha and Fremont. It later moved into adoption, foster care and a variety of other family services. Tonniges said all the funding the nonprofit receives is public information through government agencies and its annual federal nonprofit disclosure form, and it’s also audited.
But it received enough calls by Monday that it felt the need to respond publicly to the allegations. “So, we strongly encourage Gen. Flynn and Mr.
Musk to visit us to learn more,” the nonprofit said in a press release. “Learn about who we serve, and how we transform federal grant funding into children, families and lives saved.” Download the new Journal Star News Mobile App Top Journal Star photos for January 2025 Nebraska head coach John Cook speaks during a news conference on Thursday, Jan.
30, 2025, at Hawks Championship Center. The Legislature's Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee listens to testimony Thursday at the Capitol regarding a bill to change Nebraska to a winner-take-all voting system in the Electoral College. The Lincoln Southwest bench, including Eedee Npimnee (front left), celebrates scoring a basket against Lincoln North Star, Thursday, Jan.
30, 2025, at Lincoln North Star. Construction work continues near South 17th and A streets as part of the current Lincoln On the Move program previously approved by voters to build and rehab streets. The City Council has been asked to put a proposal to extend a quarter-center sales tax for the program on April’s primary ballot.
Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke delivers his first State of the Judiciary address in the legislative chamber at the Capitol on Tuesday. Lincoln Fire and Rescue firefighters work to remove a fence to reach a recreational vehicle that caught fire Friday near 30th and U streets. Nebraska’s Sam Hoiberg (left) and Rollie Worster wrestle the ball from USC’s Wesley Yates III on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps answers questions from honor roll and AVID students at Goodrich Middle School on Thursday. Epps shared her experience in space with students as part of a collaboration with the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum. David Seizys, a teacher at Goodrich, organized the presentation.
Elkhorn South's Lincoln Schwarz (23) defends the basket as Pius X's Cole Randall (3) and Kolbe Volkmer (44) try to gain possession of the ball underneath the rim in the first half on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025,at Pius X High School. The Nebraska wrestling team is greeted by throngs of fans as they enter the arena to take on Penn State on Friday, Jan.
17, 2025, at the Devaney Sports Center. Ray Jisa (left) adjusts his wheelchair next to his wife, Marla, on Friday at their Seward home. Due to a new state law that caps what medical equipment providers can charge Medicaid supplement plans, Jisa said replacing his wheelchair would cost him $2,500 out of pocket when it cost him nothing when he first bought one five years ago.
Matthias McKing (left), 11, helps Javar Walker, 3, decide on a piece of candy during the Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Rally on Sunday at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Nebraska Union. Nebraska's Tyus Wilson celebrates after completing a jump to lead the nation in the Men's High Jump competition during the 2025 Graduate Classic on Saturday, Jan.
18, 2025, at Bob Devaney Sports Center. Lincoln Lutheran’s Trenton Ernst (left), Grant Stowell and Grant Kuhlmann defend as Ashland-Greenwood’s Cal Kissinger goes for a basket on Thursday in Ashland. University of Nebraska-Lincoln senior Nik Barger looks through peacoats to hand out to a UNL choir member on Thursday at Westbrook Music building before the choir left for Monday's presidential inauguration.
Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett (left) celebrates after defeating Penn State’s Shayne Van Ness (center) in a 149lb match on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at the Devaney Sports Center. Nebraska's Braxton Meah (34) dunks the ball against Rutgers defenders in the second half on Thursday, Jan.
16, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Two parkgoers fish through the ice of Holmes Lake on Monday at Holmes Lake Park in Lincoln. Nebraska Game and Parks is reminding people to use caution and test the ice before venturing out onto frozen lakes or ponds.
Southeast Community College President Paul Illich speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Sandhills Global Technology Center on SCC's Lincoln campus on Wednesday. The new, 65,000-square-foot building, which will house a number of SCC programs, including biotechnology, electronic systems, computer information technology and design and drafting, will open to students next week. Members of the media record Gov.
Jim Pillen (bottom right) as he delivers his State of the State address Wednesday at the Capitol. Nebraska's Christopher Minto reacts after defeating Minnesota's Andrew Sparks at 165 pounds Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. People attend a Lancaster County Board meeting Tuesday at the County-City Building.
Opponents and supporters of a large solar farm planned for southern Lancaster County offered testimony for six hours on the proposed $600 million, 304-megawatt solar project, which Florida company NextEra Energy wants to build on 2,400 acres east of Hallam. Zoe, 6, (left) and Betsy, 7, (right) spend time on the floor with their mother, Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln (center), during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Volunteer Olivia Guynan takes Teddy the cat out of his cage on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at the Capital Humane Society Pieloch Pet Adoption Center. Nebraska State Board of Education member Deborah Neary (left) listens as her colleague Elizabeth Tegtmeier discusses her qualifications to be board president during a board orientation meeting Thursday at the Nebraska Department of Education's Lincoln office.
Lincoln Southwest’s Jayven Mitchell (left) rebounds the ball next to Lincoln Southeast’s Uzziah Sanders on Friday at Lincoln Southwest High School. Jordyn Bahl (center) is greeted by fellow Husker athlete Rebekah Allick after she leaves the podium in the Governor's Hearing Room on Friday at the Capitol. At left is Hannah Holtmeier, a UNL student.
They spoke in support of a bill introduced by Sen. Kathleen Kauth (right) that would ban transgender individuals from certain bathrooms and locker rooms in the state. Kevin Stocker (bottom right)a Nebraska Public Service commissioner, takes a phone call on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Logan Sweet, a newly graduated firefighter recruit at Lincoln Fire and Rescue, introduces his 10-month-old daughter Lennon to Archie, a golden lab, and his handler Samantha Wilkins, an LFR firefighter and EMT, following an LFR badge ceremony for firefighter recruits Tuesday at Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall. Eleven recruits and three canine teams received badges in the ceremony. In addition to taking another run at property tax cuts this year, Gov.
Jim Pillen said he will seek to ban Nebraska children from social media until they are 16 years old and bar cellphones from K-12 schools. Penn State's Jayla Oden (12) and Nebraska's Britt Prince (23) battle for the ball during the first quarter of the game on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Casey Manka with The Tree Guys works to haul a Christmas tree into a chipper at Holmes Lake Park in the parking lot west of the north softball fields on Tuesday. The city of Lincoln is providing drop-off areas for anyone wishing to dispose of their trees. Nebraska's Logan Nissley (2) and Amiah Hargrove (33) celebrate in the fourth quarter of the game against Michigan State on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Milford's Ayla Roth (4) dives to save the ball amid Malcolm defenders on Thursday at Malcolm High School. Brandon Lenners snow blows the sidewalk outside of an apartment complex near Old Cheney and 84th street on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.
Pius X's Austen Davis (24) gains possession of a rebound against Omaha Skutt's Libby Shotkoski (12) and Kamryn Kasner (34) in the first half on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at Lincoln Pius X High School. Quentin Shaw, assistant coordinator of legislative services, changes the nameplates in the Norris Chamber Friday.
Senators return to the Capitol for the first session of the 109th Nebraska Legislature on Wednesday. Lincoln North Star's Jakeyce Fowler (left) and Rieal Acin (5) celebrate during the fourth quarter of the game against Lincoln Southwest on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at Lincoln North Star High School.
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