President Donald Trump holds up an executive order he signed during a White House ceremony to establish a faith-based office, the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. In front of a small crowd of cabinet members and religious leaders at the White House Rose Garden, President Donald Trump announced, and then signed, an executive order giving Faith-based groups a stronger voice in the federal government.
“It’s a great day,” he said after signing the order and passing out pens to religious leaders who surrounded him outside on the spring morning for the National Day of Prayer event.
No details about the order were given at the ceremony, but religious leaders were reminded of the work they do in caring for those in need and were assured by the president that their religious freedom would continue to be protected by the federal government.
A White House document posted online after the order was signed said its purpose was to ensure that faith-based and community organisations “have strong advocates” in the White House and the federal government.
It said the “White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative” would provide recommendations on programmes and policies where faith-based and community organisations could partner with the government to “deliver more effective solutions to poverty”.
It also pointed out that the new office would enable the Trump administration to know of failures, within the executive branch, of complying with religious liberty protections.