Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and President Trump On February 7, 2025, President Trump established the White House Faith Office via Executive Order 14205, building on his efforts to ensure faith organizations can compete fairly for federal funds to provide essential social services. The executive order called for each federal agency to have a Center for Faith, and the Department of Labor quickly instituted an office staffed by Administration appointees to complete this important work.

The President directed the White House Faith Office to lead ten initiatives for policy development (White House FO Fact Sheet ). These initiatives reaffirm that faith organizations enjoy constitutional and Federal statutory protections for religious liberty and should have the opportunity to fully and actively participate in addressing critical issues like poverty, substance use disorder recovery, and community revitalization. This guidance reflects the Administration's commitment to protecting religious liberty, promoting economic opportunities, and fostering partnerships that build upon the documented successes of faith groups in serving Americans in need.

Across the United States, millions of Americans face challenges including homelessness (NCH: Homelessness in the US), substance use disorder (Addiction Statistics), unemployment (Civilian Unemployment Rate), and family instability (UT PRC: Children's Household Instability). Faith organizations have long been instrumental in providing compassionate care, often filling gaps left by government programs. The Trump Administration recognizes these groups are most effective when they have equal opportunity to compete for federal resources, provided they adhere to constitutional and legal guidelines.

The Center for Faith at the Department of Labor is tasked with ensuring that qualified faith organizations can partner with the Department to deliver critical employment and training services, particularly in areas such as job training, apprenticeship programs, and reemployment services for underserved populations. This guidance aligns with the Administration's focus on economic recovery, workforce empowerment and reducing regulatory barriers.

Core Principles for the Department of Labor's Center for Faith:

  1. Equal Opportunity: Faith-based organizations must be eligible, on the same basis as any other organizations, to seek DOL support or participate in DOL programs for which they are otherwise eligible, and DOL must not discriminate on the basis of an organization's religious character, motives, or affiliation.
  2. Religious Liberty: Faith-based organizations that are DOL Service Providers retain their autonomy, right of expression, religious character, and ability to practice their religious beliefs, provided that they do not use direct Federal funds to support or engage in any explicitly religious activities.
  3. Service to All: Department of Labor funds must be used to provide services to all eligible individuals, regardless of their religious beliefs, and cannot support explicitly religious activities.
  4. Focus on Workforce Outcomes: The Department of Labor prioritizes programs that align with the Administration's economic goals, such as job creation, apprenticeship expansion, and reemployment, particularly for communities impacted by economic downturns or the opioid crisis.

Accessing the Department of Labor's Federal Grants

The federal government offers two primary types of grants which may be relevant to faith-based and community organizations:

  • Discretionary Grants: Often directly awarded by federal agencies.
  • Formula Grants: Funds distributed primarily to states, cities, or counties, which may then allocate resources to local organizations – including faith-based organizations.

The Department of Labor offers a range of funding opportunities through discretionary grants and formula grants. Faith organizations can apply for grants awarded pursuant to, for example:

  • Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA): Supports job training, apprenticeships, and employment services for adults, youth, and dislocated workers.
  • YouthBuild: Provides job training and educational services for opportunity youth ages 16-24 who left school without a secondary diploma.
  • Reemployment Services: Assists unemployed individuals, including those impacted by economic challenges like the post-COVID-19 recovery, in finding new jobs more quickly.

To find opportunities:

  • Use Grants.gov: Search for DOL grants on www.grants.gov, which centralizes federal grant announcements. Select "All Department of Labor Grants" to see Labor-specific funding opportunities.

For faith organizations who have questions about their rights or responsibilities with respect to grants:

  • Contact the DOL Center for Faith: Reach out to the Center for Faith office at faith@dol.gov.

State and Local Liaisons: In addition to contacting DOL, faith organizations can engage with state workforce agencies that distribute U.S. Department of Labor formula grants, as they often have liaisons available to assist faith-based groups.

Support for Small Organizations

The Trump Administration has streamlined application processes, reducing paperwork and regulatory burdens to make it easier for small organizations to apply.

Recognizing small organizations, including faith organizations, may lack resources for grant writing or compliance, the Administration has enhanced technical assistance:

  • Federal agencies like DOL provide free expert support via program officers listed in grant announcements. The DOL Center for Faith will eventually host webinars open to faith and other community organizations regarding grant applications.
  • State governments and nonprofits continue to host grant-related workshops, with increased federal incentives to expand these services.

Key Rules and Considerations

The DOL Center for Faith operates under the following guidelines to ensure constitutional compliance while supporting organizational autonomy:

  1. Separation of Religious Activities:
    • Federal funds cannot be used for explicitly religious activities, such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization. These activities must be privately funded and separated in time or location from DOL-funded services.
    • Example: A faith-based organization running an Employment and Training Administration-funded job training program in a church can hold a privately-funded Bible study, but would have to do so in a separate room or at a different time.
  2. Non-Discrimination Based on Religion in Service Delivery:
    • DOL-funded programs must serve all eligible individuals, regardless of their religion, religious belief(s), refusal to hold a religious belief, or refusal to attend or participate in a religious practice. Organizations cannot require participants to engage in religious activities to receive services.
    • Example: A faith group operating a workforce center cannot mandate attendance at a prayer session as a condition of enrollment. Participation in religious activities must be voluntary and clearly communicated as optional.
  3. Religious Hiring Exemptions:
    • Organizations that qualify as "religious organizations" under sections 702(a) and 703(e)(2) of Title VII can make employment decisions on the basis of religion.
  4. Use of Religious Facilities and Symbols:
    • Faith organizations may use their facilities for Department of Labor-funded programs and retain religious art, icons, scriptures, or symbols in those facilities.
    • Faith organizations that receive DOL funds may also retain religious terms in their names and religious references in their mission statements and other governing documents.
    • Example: A church hosting a Labor-funded apprenticeship program does not need to remove Christian art or change its name to qualify for funding.
  5. Compliance with Civil Rights Laws:
    • Covered organizations, including covered faith organizations, must comply with civil rights laws, including, as applicable:
      • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964;
      • Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972;
      • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and
      • The Age Discrimination Act of 1975.
      • Organizations receiving funding under Title I of WIOA must also comply with the nondiscrimination provisions contained in section 188 of WIOA (29 U.S.C. 3248). 

Compliance and Accountability

To maintain compliance with Department of Labor regulations, faith organizations must manage:

  • Financial Reporting: Submit DOL-specific quarterly financial reports to document proper use of funds. Information regarding this reporting will be provided with the grant award documents.
  • Record-Keeping: Maintain financial and programmatic records for three years post-project, including staff time logs and equipment inventories.
  • Audits: Organizations receiving $1,000,000 or more in federal funds annually must undergo an independent audit per  2 CFR Part 200. Organizations receiving less than $1,000,000 may perform self-audits.
  • Performance Reporting: Submit periodic and final reports detailing program outcomes, such as job placements or training completions, as required by DOL.

Tips to Avoid Audit Issues:

  • Document staff time clearly, specifying the percentage dedicated to DOL-funded activities (e.g., 50% on a job training program).
  • Maintain an inventory of equipment purchased with DOL funds, avoiding vague categories like "miscellaneous."
  • Ensure travel expenses are necessary, reasonable, and allowable.  Additionally, travel expenses must be documented per OMB Circular A-122, now superseded by 2 CFR Part 200.

Consequences of Non-Compliance: Violating grant terms may result in loss of funding, repayment obligations or legal action, including potential criminal prosecution for fraud.

What to Do If Your Application Is Denied

Organizations whose applications are denied are encouraged to contact the program officer for feedback. The Trump Administration has encouraged agencies to provide constructive critiques to improve future applications, reflecting a commitment to ensuring equal opportunity in competing for federal resources.

DOL-Specific Priorities Under Trump's Initiative

The Trump Administration has emphasized workforce development and economic recovery, with specific focus areas for the Department of Labor:

  • Substance Use Disorder and Reemployment: Grants are available for providing job training and support services for individuals recovering from substance use disorder.
  • Apprenticeship Expansion: DOL prioritizes funding for apprenticeship programs, encouraging faith and other organizations to partner with local businesses to train workers for in-demand industries.
  • Onshoring and Manufacturing: Reflecting President Trump's goal of making the U.S. a manufacturing superpower, faith and other organizations can access grants to train workers for manufacturing jobs, leveraging tax credits and special zones on federal lands.

Addressing DEI Rollbacks

The Trump Administration's executive orders, particularly Executive Order 14151 (January 20, 2025), rescinded DEI mandates. Faith-based organizations should:

  • Focus on merit-based service delivery, ensuring programs align with applicable civil rights laws.
  • Avoid DEI-related practices if they are discriminatory. Monitor guidance from DOL and the U.S. Attorney General with respect to DEI-related practices.

Support and Resources

The DOL Center for Faith provides tailored support, including:

  • Faith organizations who have questions about their rights or responsibilities with respect to grants should contact the Center for Faith for guidance (faith@dol.gov)
  • Faith Support Program: Access free training and capacity-building from DOL-funded intermediaries.
  • Workshops: Attend DOL-sponsored or state-led workshops on grant writing and compliance, often in collaboration with faith liaisons.

If your application is denied, feel free to contact the appropriate DOL program officer for feedback regarding how to improve future submissions. The Trump Administration encourages agencies to provide constructive critiques to provide a level the playing field for faith-based groups.

Contact Information

DOL Center for Faith

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210

www.dol.gov/faith 
faith@dol.gov

Conclusion

The DOL Center for Faith, under the Trump Administration's guidance, is committed to empowering organizations, including faith organizations, to deliver workforce development and reemployment services. By ensuring equal access to funding, protecting religious liberty, and reducing bureaucratic barriers, DOL aims to expand opportunities for faith-based and other organizations to help strengthen America's workforce. Organizations must comply with the law and maintain required records. They should also align programs with the Administration's economic priorities to maximize impact.