Conservatives like me once instinctively understood that expanding government power — even briefly — invites harm. Yet recent attempts by President Trump’s administration to use the tax code as a weapon reveal how easily partisanship can override wisdom.

In recent weeks, Mr. Trump has repeatedly threatened to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status as part of his feud with the school over its response to antisemitism and perceived ideological bias. On Wednesday, he floated the idea of stripping other universities of their exemptions. Meanwhile, the acting U.S. attorney in Washington, a Trump ally, accused Wikipedia’s parent organization of allowing foreign propaganda and suggested that it, too, might be failing its obligations as a nonprofit.

Many on the right have welcomed these aggressive moves as overdue pushback against liberal dominance in academia and media. That’s a mistake — one that conservatives could come to regret. Whether or not Mr. Trump ultimately succeeds, his attempt to weaponize the tax code sets a troubling and dangerous precedent.

If the executive branch can threaten Wikipedia and universities today, what would stop a leftist administration from targeting churches and synagogues tomorrow?

Imagine a scenario: It’s 2029 and a progressive Democrat sits in the Oval Office.Federal auditors descend on evangelical churches after pastors preach that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, labeling their words “political advocacy.” Synagogues face regulatory investigations for teachings on gender and sexuality that offend prevailing cultural orthodoxies. Faith-based charities, suddenly saddled with endless bureaucratic forms and invasive reporting requirements, find their missions suffocating beneath paperwork. Smaller congregations fold under legal expenses while larger institutions self-censor out of fear. Soon the pulpit is muted, faith leaders are intimidated into silence and communities are stripped of their authentic voices.

Far-fetched? Hardly. Unchecked executive power rarely contracts voluntarily. Progressives have long advocated re-examining the tax-exempt status of religious institutions that engage with politically sensitive issues like same-sex marriage and abortion. Conservatives rightly condemned the Obama administration when the Internal Revenue Service selectively scrutinized conservative Tea Party groups that applied for tax-exempt status, subjecting them to prolonged bureaucratic hurdles and legal battles.