Churches look to step up as government services dwindle under Trump

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

10/12/25 6:00 AM ET


Where the federal government is pulling back, churches are looking to step up.

Amid the Trump administration’s funding cuts and the ongoing government shutdown, houses of worship have felt a responsibility to step up services for students, immigrants and others who are struggling. From increases in anti-hunger initiatives to programs for federal workers who have been furloughed, religious leaders say all their efforts and more are deeply needed right now.

“We have run a series of free workshops on headshots, resumes and LinkedIn profiles really helping federal workers,” said Rev. Meredith Lovell Keseley, senior pastor at Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Burke, Va.

“We have found that it is essential the church step into the space with federal workers to, first and foremost, affirm that the work that they’ve done matters — it’s important and that the loudest voice that they hear are voices of gratitude for their federal service. Then, second, that they have gifts and skills, and those gifts and skills are needed in the world, and we want to walk alongside them to help them figure out where God is calling them next,” she added.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5547404-churches-trump-government-cuts-federal-shutdown/

[littlemissmartypants]

1. I just read an article about...

Long lines of Armed Services personnel, some in uniform at food banks.

Then later on MTP Margaret Brennan quoted some outrageously high number of interest free loans and amounts that USAA had signed off on in the last 48 hours.

God Bless the churches, but it's clear that's not going to be enough to plug the gaping holes created by the regime.

We haven't really started to see the food chain disruptions yet and they're definitely coming.

I am hoping that people will realize that for Christmas this year being "Merry" may depend on learning to be satisfied with what we have and that having love for each other may very well be the most valuable gift we can share.

❤️

[poli-junkie]

2. This is the plan all along

to transfer services to churches and transform America into a theocracy.

[RandomNumbers]

5. Exactly

Got to give those "churches" a captive audience.

[markodochartaigh]

3. SNAP benefits were 100 billion last year.

Even if the benefits were only cut 10% that's 10 billion that churches would have to make up to meet their responsibility for getting Trump elected. (I realize that not all churches were pro Trump, but White evangelicals were his strongest voting block and continue to support him.)
That's a huge amount of food support that churches will have to give. I'm thinking that churches assume that Trump's regime will channel new money through the churches to provide food support, and the pastors and church staff can siphon off the top third for administrative expenses. And of course, if people get used to getting food support from the churches they will develop an allegiance towards the church.
Still, with the huge cuts in social services proposed by the Trump regime it seems impossible for churches to make up even a small portion of the total.




Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - Key Statistics and Research | Economic Research Service
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/04/28/white-evangelicals-continue-to-stand-out-in-their-support-for-trump/https://share.google/TGcjbFWVoIKQvkchL

[eppur_se_muova]

4. More religion in public life -- just what we need.

Obviously, we were too close to escaping into a fully secular society, and had to be brought back by force (because voluntarily doesn't work when people are educated).