A growing clash between the Vatican and the Trump administration has put faith-based humanitarian organizations in crisis. President Trump’s decision to freeze foreign aid and cut funding for refugee programs has left Christian charities struggling to survive, raising questions about the intersection of politics and religious values.
For decades, Christian aid groups have played a crucial role in humanitarian efforts. Catholic Relief Services has provided food during famines, World Vision has helped millions access clean water, and Lutheran and Episcopal organizations have resettled refugees in the U.S. These groups relied heavily on government funding, receiving hundreds of millions annually through agencies like the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Now, that support is vanishing.
Over the past few weeks, the Trump administration has halted foreign aid, placed thousands of USAID workers on leave, and escalated deportation policies. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a Trump ally, boasted about dismantling USAID, calling it a “criminal organization” without evidence.
The funding freeze has forced faith-based aid organizations to shut down programs and lay off staff. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recently cut a third of its migration and refugee services office. Catholic Relief Services warned of imminent layoffs and program cuts of up to 50 percent. In 2022, the group received 64% of its nearly $1.5 billion revenue from government contributions.
“We are facing immediate and severe funding gaps that threaten our ability to deliver lifesaving aid,” the organization said in a plea for private donations.
At a congressional hearing, Andrew Natsios, former USAID administrator under President George W. Bush, urged lawmakers to reinstate funding for faith-based aid groups, warning that political conflicts were harming the church’s humanitarian mission.
“All these programs are now frozen, and their staff are being laid off,” Natsios testified. “This is damaging the church’s work worldwide.”
Religious Divide Over Trump’s Policies
Trump’s policies have deepened divisions among Christian leaders. While some conservatives champion his defense of “Christian values” in issues like abortion and gender identity, others argue that slashing aid to the poor contradicts core Christian teachings.
Vice President J.D. Vance, a Catholic convert, has been vocal in defending the administration’s approach. At the International Religious Freedom Summit on February 5, he accused some aid groups of “spreading atheism globally” and suggested Catholic bishops were prioritizing financial interests over true humanitarian aid.
Vance framed his stance around the concept of “ordo amoris” (order of love), arguing that charity should prioritize Americans first. “You love your family, then your neighbor, then your community, and then your fellow citizens,” he said on Fox News. “After that, you can focus on the rest of the world.”
Pope Francis countered Vance’s argument in an open letter to U.S. bishops, citing the parable of the Good Samaritan as the true expression of Christian love—helping all in need, without exception. “Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that gradually extends outward,” the pope wrote, emphasizing the need for global solidarity.
Impact on Faith-Based Aid Groups
Some Christian organizations have weathered the storm better than others. Samaritan’s Purse, led by Trump ally Franklin Graham, has largely avoided financial struggles since it relies primarily on private donations rather than government funding. Graham suggested that Christian charities should turn to churches instead of the government for support. “It’s probably good for things to be shaken up,” he said, arguing that government funding could dilute religious missions.
Other organizations have moved away from explicitly religious identities to maintain their operations. Global Refuge, formerly known as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, started as a Lutheran aid group in 1939 but became an independent nonprofit focusing on immigrant support. In 2023, nearly 95% of its $221 million revenue came from government funding.
Without that support, refugee resettlement programs are collapsing. Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, which has helped resettle thousands of Afghan and other refugees, recently laid off 42 workers and furloughed 26 more. CEO Kristyn Peck described the funding freeze as devastating. “We are waiting on $2.5 million in reimbursements,” she said. “We couldn’t even make payroll last week.”
Peck, a Unitarian Universalist, lamented the shift in U.S. policy. “These decisions seem completely out of step with our country’s legacy of humanitarian aid,” she said.
As the political battle over foreign aid intensifies, Christian organizations face an existential choice: align with Trump’s nationalist agenda or seek alternative funding sources to continue their missions. The outcome could reshape the role of faith-based charities in global humanitarian work for years to come.