Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, DOL NEWS—Information sought regarding faith organizations’ participation in programs funded, regulated by DOL, (Dec 9, 2025)

By Patricia K. Ruiz, J.D.

The RFI states, “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.”

The Department of Labor (DOL) is seeking information on how it can better engage qualified faith organizations to help deliver services, including job training, employment support, and community outreach, without undue restrictions on the organizations’ religious liberties. Specifically, DOL seeks input from faith organizations and other stakeholders to identify barriers to the organizations’ participation in programs funded or regulated by DOL to ensure it provides equal treatment and religious accommodations for the organizations.

Role of faith organizations. According to the request for information (RFI), faith organizations have historically been vital partners with important expertise, perspective, and ability to help advance DOL’s mission to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees in the U.S. Faith organizations provide critical services, such as job training, education, career counseling, and community support “in a culturally competent and compassionate manner.” DOL administers programs and funding to support workforce development, job training, unemployment insurance, and wage earner protections. Consistent with principles outlined in Trump administration 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,” and seeks to ensure its regulations, policies, and practices align with these principles and facilitate the participation of qualified faith organizations.

Information sought. DOL, 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, seeks responses to the following questions:

• 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)?

• If applicable, provide examples of how these barriers impact your faith organization’s ability to deliver services.

• What, if any, changes to regulations or procedures do you recommend in order to address these issues?

• 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?

• Can you provide examples of specific accommodations you believe would enhance the participation of faith organizations in DOL-funded programs?

• 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?

• In what ways do you believe faith organizations contribute to DOL’s mission of improving employment outcomes and wage earner welfare?

• What do you believe the impact on communities would be if faith organizations were unable to participate in DOL programs or access federal funding?

• What metrics or data should DOL collect to assess the effectiveness of faith organizations in delivering DOL-funded services?

• 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)?

• 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?

Comments must be received no later than 60 days after the publication of the RFI in the Federal Register, which is scheduled for December 10.

News: AgencyNews Discrimination ReligiousDiscrimination IndividualRights