Executive Order 14205 establishes the White House Faith Office within the Executive Office of the President to enhance the role of faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship in addressing social issues and delivering services to American communities. The order positions these organizations as having capacities that "often exceed that of government" in serving individuals, families, and communities. It emphasizes the administration's commitment to allowing faith-based entities to compete for federal funding opportunities and frames the initiative as part of a broader agenda to strengthen families, promote self-sufficiency, and protect religious liberty. The order explicitly commits the executive branch to ending any form of religious discrimination by the federal government.
The executive order amends several previous executive orders by replacing references to the "White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives" with "White House Faith Office" and "Centers for Faith-based and Community Initiatives" with "Centers for Faith." It establishes the Office within the Domestic Policy Council, to be led by a Senior Advisor with support from other positions as deemed necessary. The order also requires agencies without a Center for Faith to designate a Faith Liaison within 90 days. Significantly, the order removes a provision from previous executive orders (section 2(h) of EO 13279) that had established certain restrictions on faith-based organizations receiving federal funding.
The White House Faith Office is tasked with eleven specific functions, including consulting with faith and community leaders on issues ranging from protecting women and children to combating anti-religious bias; making policy recommendations affecting faith organizations; coordinating implementation across federal agencies; showcasing innovative faith-based initiatives; developing grant training for faith-based entities; supporting religious liberty exemptions; promoting employee volunteerism; identifying grant opportunities for inexperienced faith-based organizations; collaborating with the Attorney General on religious liberty concerns; and identifying barriers to participation of faith-based entities in government programs. The order directs federal agencies to support the Office's work and requires the Directors of Centers for Faith to oversee their agencies' efforts to assist the Office, with regular reporting mechanisms established to ensure accountability.