White House Executive Order Creates Faith Office

Among the recent executive orders issued by the Trump administration, one issued last week would establish a new White House Faith Office. How would such an office impact federal financial assistance? Well, a further look into the wording of the executive order provides more information.

The White House, in Executive Order 14205, states that “the executive branch wants faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to compete on a level playing field for grants, contracts, programs and other federal funding opportunities. The efforts of faith-based entities, community organizations and houses of worship are essential to strengthening families and revitalizing communities, and the federal government welcomes opportunities to partner with such organizations through innovative, measurable and outcome-driven initiatives.”

This order amends previous executive orders related to faith-based and community organizations issued during the George W. Bush administration by substituting “White House Faith Office” for “White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives” and substituting “Center for Faith” for “Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives,” and “Centers for Faith” for “Centers for Faith-based and Community Initiatives.” The office will be housed in the Domestic Policy Council and headed by a senior advisor to the White House Faith Office, and supported by other positions that the president considers appropriate.

The office’s functions will include:

• working with experts and various faith and community leaders on topics such as protecting women and children; strengthening marriage and family; lifting up individuals through work and self-sufficiency, defending religious liberty; combatting anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and additional forms of anti-religious bias; promoting foster care and adoption programs in partnership with faith-based entities; providing wholesome and effective education; preventing and reducing crime and facilitating prisoner reentry; promoting recovery from substance use disorder; and fostering flourishing minds;
• making recommendations to the president regarding changes to policies, programs and practices that affect the ability of faith-based entities, community organizations and houses of worship to serve families and communities;
• meeting with representatives from the Centers for Faith and other representatives from across agencies as appropriate;
• showcasing innovative initiatives by faith-based entities, community organizations and houses of worship that serve and strengthen individuals, families and communities;
• coordinating with all agencies to implement training and education throughout the country for faith-based entity grantees to build their capacity to procure grants;
• supporting agencies in developing and implementing training and education regarding religious liberty exceptions, accommodations or exemptions;
• working with agencies on identifying and promoting grant opportunities for nonprofit faith-based entities, community organizations and houses of worship, especially those inexperienced with public funding but that operate effective programs;
• collaborating with the Attorney General, or a designee of the Attorney General, to identify concerns raised by faith-based entities, community organizations and houses of worship about any failures of the executive branch to enforce constitutional and federal statutory protections for religious liberty; and
• reduce burdens on the free exercise of religion, including legislative, regulatory and other barriers to the full and active participation of faith-based entities, community organizations and houses of worship in government-funded or government-conducted activities and programs.

We will be watching to see how this office will impact grants awarded to faith-based entities going forward.

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