Establishment of the White House Faith Office
Executive Order 14205, signed February 7, 2025, establishes the White House Faith Office within the Executive Office of the President (EOP) and places it under the Domestic Policy Council with a Senior Advisor at the helm. The order aims to empower faith-based organizations, community groups, and houses of worship to participate more fully in federal programs by promoting a level playing field for funding opportunities, while reaffirming religious liberty. It also updates several prior executive orders by renaming key offices and centers to reflect the new White House Faith Office and “Center for Faith” branding, and requires federal agencies to cooperate with the Office to reduce barriers to the free exercise of religion. In addition to creation and branding changes, the order tasks the Office with a broad set of duties—advising on policy, coordinating training and grant opportunities, identifying burdens on religious exercise, and working with the Attorney General on religious-liberty enforcement concerns. Agencies are required to designate Faith Liaisons (or equivalent) and share information with the Office to help fulfill its mission. The framework is designed to influence policy and programmatic actions across the federal government while preserving applicable law and budget constraints.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and placement of the White House Faith Office within the Executive Office of the President, housed in the Domestic Policy Council and led by a Senior Advisor; the Office leads the executive branch’s effort to empower faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship in serving families and communities.
- 2Amends and renames provisions in previous executive orders (13198, 13279, 13280, 13342, 13397) to substitute “White House Faith Office” for prior terms and to replace “Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives” language with “Center for Faith”/“Centers for Faith.”
- 3Summary of Office functions (Section 4):
- 4- (i) Consult with experts and faith leaders on a wide range of policy areas affecting faith-based actors.
- 5- (ii) Make recommendations to the President on policies and programs that affect faith-based groups.
- 6- (iii) Convene meetings with Centers for Faith and other agency representatives.
- 7- (iv) Advise on implementing policy goals to enable faith-based groups to better serve communities.
- 8- (v) Showcase successful faith-based initiatives nationwide.
- 9- (vi) Coordinate training for faith-based grantees to help them obtain federal funding.
- 10- (vii) Support training on religious liberty exceptions and accommodations.
- 11- (viii) Engage with businesses on volunteerism, charitable giving, and payroll deductions.
- 12- (ix) Identify and promote grant opportunities for faith-based organizations, especially those new to public funding.
- 13- (x) Work with the Attorney General to address concerns about enforcement of religious liberty protections.
- 14- (xi) Propose ways to reduce burdens on the free exercise of religion and to encourage participation in government programs.
- 15Agency responsibilities (Sec. 4, 4(b)) to provide information and assistance to the Office as allowed by law; each agency must designate or appoint a Faith Liaison or oversee a Center for Faith, within 90 days.
- 16General provisions and severability: the order preserves existing agency authority and is subject to appropriations; nothing in the order creates enforceable rights and remains compliant with law.