Kate Laurensen is a veteran reporter. She started out covering entertainment news for the local city paper before moving up to the City desk. She studied journalism at San Francisco City College for the Arts.
March 20 , 2025
Washington, DC - President Donald J. Trump has unveiled plans to establish a new federal Office of Faith-Based Education, a move aimed at integrating religious principles into educational initiatives and expanding the role of faith-based organizations in shaping public education policy. This announcement builds on his administration's broader efforts to promote religious liberty and empower faith-based entities.
The Office of Faith-Based Education will operate within the White House's Domestic Policy Council, alongside the recently established White House Faith Office. According to administration officials, this new office will focus on fostering partnerships between faith-based organizations and public schools, promoting values-driven curricula, and ensuring that religious institutions have equal access to federal education grants.
In a statement, President Trump emphasized the importance of bringing religion back into public life, declaring, "Faith is at the heart of our nation’s founding principles. This office will ensure our children are educated in a way that respects their families’ values and beliefs."
This initiative follows a long tradition of federal engagement with faith-based organizations. The concept dates back to President George W. Bush's creation of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in 2001, which sought to level the playing field for religious groups competing for federal funding. Subsequent administrations, including those of Presidents Obama and Biden, maintained similar offices under slightly different mandates.
President Trump’s first term included an Advisor on Faith and Opportunity Initiatives but lacked a dedicated office like this one. His second term has seen a renewed focus on institutionalizing faith-based initiatives, including the recent establishment of a task force to combat anti-Christian bias.
Supporters argue that the new office will strengthen family values and provide much-needed resources for underserved communities through faith-driven education programs. Pastor Paula White, a senior advisor to the White House Faith Office, praised the initiative as “a transformative step toward moral renewal in America.”
However, critics have raised concerns about potential violations of the constitutional separation between church and state. Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, warned that “this office risks turning public schools into battlegrounds for religious indoctrination.”
Legal experts also caution that granting preferential treatment to faith-based groups could lead to legal challenges. The administration has countered by asserting that all activities will comply with existing constitutional protections for religious freedom.
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