Who Will Speak Up for Widows?

2025 Faith Leaders Summit - June 21 in Orlando, FL

I’ve been thinking lately……”Who will speak up for the true biblical mandate of James 1:27, caring for fatherless and widows” - as family support, as protecting women and children, as public health, as supporting education and recovery, as a community strengthener, as creating self-sufficiency, as a policy of significance, as being a faith-focused initiative in the United States of America?

My extensive widow organization research from both Candid and Guidestar show that widow support funding and resources are:
1. Mostly directed internationally rather than staying within the U.S.
2. Among widow populations, military widows make up the smallest group but receive the most benefits. 🇺🇸
3. In contrast, civilian 🇺🇸 widows represent the majority yet have the fewest support resources available and accessible to them.

On February 7, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the White House Faith Office, aiming to empower faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship to serve families and communities. This office replaces the previous White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and is housed within the Domestic Policy Council.

This executive order makes no mention of widows or the fatherless —an oversight that continues to leave this population underserved, unheard, and unseen. A serious exclusion from any faith office or executive order or community who proclaims to care for those who find themselves in need of support, especially spiritual support.

Link to White House Faith Office Announcement: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/establishment-of-the-white-house-faith-office/

Our initiative to improve more substantial support for U.S. widows is well documented via our petition which has garnered 11,287 signatures to Advance the Rights of Widows in the United States and Worldwide for an inaugural National U.S. Widows Day or Week of Awareness around June 23. To date, it has not been approved nor passed.

The Key Functions of the new White House Faith Office:
• Policy Recommendations: Advise the President on changes to policies, programs, and practices to enhance the ability of faith-based and community organizations to serve effectively. 
• Collaboration: Work with various experts and leaders from faith and community sectors to address issues such as protecting women and children, strengthening families, promoting self-sufficiency, defending religious liberty, and supporting education and recovery programs. 
• Capacity Building: Coordinate training and education to help faith-based organizations access federal grants and funding opportunities. 
• Religious Liberty: Identify and address concerns related to potential violations of religious freedom within the executive branch.