Notice2025-22457
Addressing Barriers to Participation of Faith Organizations in DOL Programs and Funding
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 10, 2025
Issuing agencies
Labor Department
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Labor (the Department or DOL) fosters, promotes, and develops the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States. DOL also improves working conditions, advances opportunities for profitable employment, and safeguards work- related benefits and rights. Faith organizations have historically been vital partners with important expertise, perspective, and ability to help advance DOL's mission. DOL seeks input from faith organizations and interested individuals to identify barriers to faith organizations' participation in DOL-funded or regulated programs and ensure DOL provides equal treatment and reasonable accommodations for faith organizations. This request for information (RFI) aims to gather information on how DOL can better engage qualified faith organizations to help deliver services, including job training, employment support, and community outreach, without undue restrictions on such organizations' religious liberty.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 235 (Wednesday, December 10, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 10, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57217-57218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22457]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
RIN 1290-AA52
Addressing Barriers to Participation of Faith Organizations in
DOL Programs and Funding
AGENCY: Center for Faith, Labor.
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (the Department or DOL) fosters,
promotes, and develops the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and
retirees of the United States. DOL also improves working conditions,
advances opportunities for profitable employment, and safeguards work-
related benefits and rights. Faith organizations have historically been
vital partners with important expertise, perspective, and ability to
help advance DOL's mission. DOL seeks input from faith organizations
and interested individuals to identify barriers to faith organizations'
participation in DOL-funded or regulated programs and ensure DOL
provides equal treatment and reasonable accommodations for faith
organizations. This request for information (RFI) aims to gather
information on how DOL can better engage qualified faith organizations
to help deliver services, including job training, employment support,
and community outreach, without undue
[[Page 57218]]
restrictions on such organizations' religious liberty.
DATES: To be assured consideration, comments must be received no later
than February 9, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Written Comments: You may submit comments and attachments,
identified by Regulatory Identifier Number (RIN) 1290-AA52,
electronically at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, which is the Federal e-
Rulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for making electronic
submissions.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and RIN
1290-AA52 for this request. All comments received, including any
personal information you provide, will be posted without change on
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Therefore, the Department cautions
commenters about submitting information they do not want made available
to the public, or submitting materials that contain personal
information (either about themselves or others), such as Social
Security Numbers and birthdates.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Wolfe, Director, Center for
Faith at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0a6c6b637e624a6e6566246d657c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f395929a879bb3979c9fdd949c85">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Executive Summary
In this document, the Department is taking initial steps to learn
more about the needs of faith organizations who are interested in
helping advance DOL's mission of fostering, promoting, and developing
the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees. Faith
organizations have a long history of providing critical services, such
as job training, education, career counseling, and community support in
a culturally competent and compassionate manner. This RFI solicits
input from stakeholders, including faith organizations and program
participants, to identify barriers to participation in DOL-funded or
regulated programs, suggest potential reasonable religious
accommodations, and propose strategies to improve outreach to and
engagement with faith organizations.
II. Background
The Department administers programs and funding to support
workforce development, job training, unemployment insurance, and wage
earner protections. Faith organizations have a long history of
providing critical services, such as job training, education, career
counseling, and community support in a culturally competent and
compassionate manner.
Executive Order 14291 issued by President Donald Trump on May 1,
2025, declares: ``The Founders envisioned a Nation in which religious
voices and views are integral to a vibrant public square and human
flourishing and in which religious people and institutions are free to
practice their faith without fear of discrimination or hostility from
the Government.'' The Executive Order further states that it will be
``the policy of the executive branch to vigorously enforce the historic
and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal
law.''
Executive Order 14205, issued by President Donald Trump in February
2025, is aimed at assisting faith-based entities and houses of worship
in their efforts to strengthen American families, promote work and
self-sufficiency, and protect religious liberty. As part of the
executive order, a White House Faith Office was established, with each
agency creating a Center for Faith with a faith director. DOL has a
Center for Faith, a faith director, and a staff of appointees to carry
out this work at the agency.
Consistent with the principles outlined in these Executive Orders,
DOL believes faith groups and houses of worship, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, should be able to compete on a level playing field
for grants, contracts, and other federal funding opportunities. DOL
seeks to ensure its regulations, policies, and practices align with
these principles and facilitate the participation of qualified faith
organizations.
III. Request for Information
In this Section III, the Department solicits responses to questions
primarily for the purpose of considering whether additional guidance or
regulatory changes would be helpful to facilitate faith organizations'
participation in DOL programs and funding opportunities.
1. What, if any, specific DOL regulations, guidance, or policies,
explicitly or implicitly restrict or discourage faith-based
organizations from participating in DOL-funded programs (e.g., job
training, workforce development, or employment services)?
2. If applicable, provide examples of how these barriers impact
your faith organization's ability to deliver services.
3. What, if any, changes to regulations or procedures do you
recommend in order to address these issues?
4. What accommodations, policies, or tools could DOL develop to
ensure faith organizations receive reasonable accommodations for their
religious beliefs and practices while participating in DOL programs?
5. Can you provide examples of specific accommodations you believe
would enhance the participation of faith organizations in DOL-funded
programs?
6. What platforms or strategies should DOL use to ensure outreach
to faith organizations is effective and they are aware of funding
opportunities and program requirements?
7. In what ways do you believe faith organizations contribute to
DOL's mission of improving employment outcomes and wage earner welfare?
8. What do you believe the impact on communities would be if faith
organizations were unable to participate in DOL programs or access
federal funding?
9. What metrics or data should DOL collect to assess the
effectiveness of faith organizations in delivering DOL-funded services?
10. Are there ways DOL can support the work of faith organizations
on current or future workforce development, apprenticeships, and job
training other than by providing federal funding (for instance, by
providing technical assistance)?
11. What other resources can DOL provide that would be helpful for
faith organizations? How else can DOL help faith organizations engage
with workforce-related issues?
IV. Authority and Signature
This document was prepared under the direction of Lori Chavez-
DeRemer, Secretary of Labor.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer,
Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2025-22457 Filed 12-9-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-HL-P
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