CPJ’s “At a Glance—The White House Faith Office” offers a snapshot of the White House Faith Office initiative in light of CPJ’s Guidelines for Government and Citizenship. This is a plain-language summary of President Trump’s Executive Order 14205 establishing the White House Faith Office—an important presidential action for both citizens and leaders of diverse faith communities.
Executive Orders outline tasks, structures, and goals; as always, citizens and others need to monitor what officials and agencies actually do, not just the words on paper.
Plain-Language Summary of the Executive Order
- Establishes a White House Faith Office
- Previous presidents, from George W. Bush forward, including President Trump during his first administration, have created their own versions of a White House office to coordinate the federal government’s interactions with faith-based and community-based organizations. This Executive Order outlines an office that is similar in some ways but different in others.
- The order creates a dedicated office within the White House to interact with, support, protect, and coordinate with faith-based and neighborhood organizations. Its mandate is to strengthen partnerships between the government and community groups focused on solving social issues (e.g.,combating poverty, addiction, and other community challenges).
- The office will be housed within the Domestic Policy Council and led by a Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office, with a Faith Director in charge of operations.
- Mission and Responsibilities
- The office serves as a bridge between federal agencies and religious or community groups, ensuring these groups have a clear avenue to apply for federal funding or resources and can participate in shaping or implementing initiatives for the public good.
- It also reviews existing regulations and policies to determine if they impede faith-based organizations’ ability to collaborate with the government, with dedicated staff monitoring “anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and other forms of anti-religious bias.”
- Interagency Collaboration
- The White House Faith Office will coordinate with the Centers of Faith that exist in major federal agencies. Centers which ensure their respective agencies implement the aforementioned mission and responsibilities of the White House Faith Office. In addition, each federal agency must designate a liaison to the White House Faith Office.
- Religious Liberty Guidance
- The Executive Order states that faith-based entities should be able to partner with federal programs without compromising their religious identity, and that federal agencies must ensure that, in their rules and grant conditions, faith-based organizations are treated equally without being unduly burdened.
- The White House Faith Office is mandated to identify concerns raised by faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship about any possible violations of religious freedom of the executive branch.
- Annual Reporting and Recommendations
- The White House Faith Office is required to submit periodic reports or recommendations to the President on how to further promote partnerships and protect religious liberty.
- These reports will inform potential policy changes or new initiatives that facilitate cooperation between government and faith-based service providers.
Points to Consider
Continuation of Past “Faith-Based Initiative” Models
- The Executive Order is, in many ways, a continuation of efforts under previous Republican and Democratic administrations (including the Bush and Obama eras) to provide government support for social services delivered by religious organizations. However, the name and responsibilities of the office will change and reflect the priorities of the acting administration.
Political Community & Government
- Government has a limited yet essential role in promoting public justice, while allowing other societal institutions—like faith-based organizations—freedom to fulfill their own responsibilities.
- By creating a Faith Office, the government acknowledges the important civic role faith-based institutions play, especially in social services.
Pluralism in Practice:
- CPJ encourages a principled pluralism, where Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and other faith traditions (as well as non-religious groups)can each partner with the government while retaining their unique values and mission. This implies a need for fairness rather than favoritism across many faith perspectives.
- If the Faith Office is perceived as promoting a single religious tradition or ignoring smaller faith communities, it could undermine genuine pluralism.
Respecting Religious Identity and Public Transparency
- Government must respect the theological convictions and institutional integrity of faith-based organizations with which it interacts.
- Religious freedom means both individuals and institutions should be able to practice their faith without coercion. Religious organizations should not be forced to alter their religious character as a condition of receiving federal support or partnering with the government.
- Faith-based organizations should evaluate grant program requirements, ensuring that partnering with the government does not dilute their religious mission or compel them to act against core beliefs.
Equitable Access for Service Recipients:
- CPJ would remind faith-based organizations that public dollars should serve the needs of all citizens. CPJ supports policies that maintain fairness in how clients (people who need help) are treated—no discrimination based on religion but rather respect for all needing services.
- There is always a question of how government can partner with faith-based groups without violating the necessary boundary between government and churches. When receiving government funds, faith-based groups should remain transparent about how they use resources, ensuring they aren’t compromising their faith’s teachings or excluding those in need.
Accountability & Feedback:
- Individuals and faith-based organizations share with government the responsibility to uphold a just political community that serves the common good.
- The executive order creates a direct line of communication, enabling faith-based organizations to provide feedback to government, share best practices, and propose solutions to community problems.
- Faith-based groups can use their voice to advocate for rules that preserve both religious liberty and responsible use of taxpayer resources. Proactive engagement could help shape better policies over time.
- CPJ would encourage faith-based organizations to track how the White House Faith Office implements the Executive Order.
Final Takeaway
At face value, the executive order’s emphasis on protecting religious liberty, valuing community-level service, and removing undue barriers for faith-based nonprofits aligns with CPJ’s vision for a pluralistic society where diverse organizations can operate according to their faith convictions and still partner with the government for the public good.
The executive order has the potential to foster a healthier partnership between government and faith communities, provided that implementation remains transparent, respectful, and consistent with the principle that the common good is advanced when all faiths (and non-faith groups) can authentically contribute to public well-being.
From CPJ’s perspective, the success of the White House Faith Office rests in fulfilling multiple important aims: fostering an environment where faith communities are welcomed as partners in addressing societal problems, while ensuring that government upholds justice, principled pluralism, and the dignity of every person in the political community.
Dr. Girien R. Salazar (pronounced “Gideon”) is the Director of Faith-Based Policy and Research at the Center for Public Justice (CPJ).
