Faith leaders accuse White House Faith Office of stonewalling them
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Some faith leaders say they're being shut out by the White House Faith Office, alleging the administration provides access only to those in political lockstep while ignoring the impact of ICE raids on religious attendance.
Why it matters: The office is taxpayer-funded and ostensibly represents the full breadth of American religious life. Critics argue it has instead become a political arm for conservative Christians.
Catch up quick: President Trump created the White House Faith Office by executive order on Feb. 7, 2025, placing it within the Domestic Policy Council and moving it into the White House complex.
- The move was designed to signal a "direct line" between people of faith and the executive branch.
- Unlike the versions under prior administrations, which were often situated in agencies or outside the immediate West Wing orbit, this office is central to Trump's "religious freedom" agenda.
Friction point: Interviewed faith leaders describe a "closed door" policy for anyone not aligned with the administration's specific cultural and immigration goals.
- Doug Pagitt, executive director of progressive Christian group Vote Common Good, tells Axios he's repeatedly sought meetings with the Faith Office, including around delivering a clergy petition about ICE.
- In one instance, Pagitt said the office claimed they were too busy to meet because they were "consumed" with the National Prayer Breakfast, an event technically run by a non-profit, not the White House.
- At the prayer breakfast, Trump said he would revoke church tax-exempt status if leaders "say something bad about" him.
What they're saying: "Trump uses God as this kind of divine personal cheerleader who is so proud of him," Interfaith Alliance president and CEO Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush tells Axios.
- Raushenbush said the Faith Office has turned into PR opportunities for white conservative Christian to pray over Trump as if he's anointed instead of listening to concerns from other leaders about Islamophobia and antisemitism.
The other side: The White House maintains the office is a hub of inclusivity and policy wins.
- "The White House Faith Office was not created to tell Americans what religion to practice; it was created to protect every American's right to pray, worship, and participate in policies that have a direct impact on their daily lives," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers tells Axios.
- White House officials say the office has held briefings with "thousands" of people over the last year.
- Officials say the office has also hosted events for Ramadan, Easter, Hanukkah, Diwali and the National Day of Prayer, and receives thousands of meeting requests with 75–100 standing in-person requests at any time.
Yes, but: Leaders on the ground say other administration policies are hurting congregations, especially those serving immigrants.
- Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, tells Axios that "indiscriminate" immigration enforcement has caused attendance to drop by 30% to 50% in many Latino churches.
- Salguero, who has not met with Faith Office officials, said his group has had to send over $25,000 in emergency aid to Minneapolis pastors to keep church doors open as fearful congregants stay home.
- "I'll pray with Republicans. I'll pray with Democrats. I will speak with anybody. But when you invite organizations like mine, the price of admission cannot be: do you endorse all my policies?" Salguero said.
What we're watching: Interfaith Alliance and other multifaith groups this month sued the Trump administration over its creation of the Religious Liberty Commission.
- The groups say the commission violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) since the panel has "unbalanced and biased viewpoints."
- The commission's membership consists exclusively of Christians, except for one Orthodox Jewish Rabbi.
