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In a move reinforcing his commitment to religious liberty, President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order to establish the White House Faith Office. This initiative aims to empower faith-based organisations, community groups, and houses of worship to better serve American families and communities.  

Housed within the Domestic Policy Council, the White House Faith Office will serve as a bridge between the government and faith communities. It will consult religious leaders, offer policy recommendations to the President, and ensure that federal programs align with American values. Additionally, the office will work alongside government agencies to provide religious liberty training and help non-profits secure grants.  

One of the key functions of this office will be to collaborate with the Attorney General in identifying failures to enforce constitutional and statutory protections for religious liberty. This ensures that individuals and organisations are not unfairly targeted or restricted based on their faith.  

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 Defending Religious Liberty  

President Trump has been a vocal advocate for religious freedom. Since returning to office, he has taken multiple actions to protect faith-based communities from government overreach.  

Early in his presidency, he pardoned Christians and pro-life activists who were prosecuted by the previous administration for peacefully expressing their beliefs. Additionally, he reinstated service members who were removed from the military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds.  

Last week, he took further steps to safeguard religious freedom by signing executive actions preventing federal agencies from compelling individuals or organisations to violate their religious convictions. Most recently, he established a task force to eliminate anti-Christian bias, a move welcomed by many religious organisations.  

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A History of Keeping Promises  

This new executive order builds on President Trump’s history of defending religious rights. During his first term, he took significant steps to protect faith-based organisations and religious individuals.  

- In 2017, he stopped the Johnson Amendment from restricting pastors’ freedom of speech.  

- In 2018, he launched the Faith and Opportunity Initiative to highlight the contributions of religious groups.  

- That same year, he reversed an Obama-era policy that denied disaster relief to religious organisations.  

- In 2019, he led a Global Call to Protect Religious Freedom at the United Nations, urging world leaders to prioritise religious liberty.  

- In 2020, he introduced new guidelines to safeguard religious expression in public schools.  

By establishing the White House Faith Office, President Trump continues to fulfil his promise to protect religious freedom. This move signals his ongoing commitment to ensuring that faith-based organisations and individuals can freely practice their beliefs without government interference.