Conservative Christian “pro-family” groups that support President Donald Trump are promoting his attacks on DEI, praising his management of the economy, sending mixed messages about whether women should be leaders, and backing efforts to require Bible reading in public schools.
Focus on the Family claims one-seventh of the 2025 federal budget was slated for spending on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
“More than $1.1 trillion” of the 2025 federal budget has been “designated for DEI in 2025,” Focus claimed. But the claim is based on a questionable interpretation of a partisan study from the pro-Trump Center for Renewing America, an activist think tank founded by Russell Vought, the controversial Christian nationalist helping Trump slash federal spending.
“Federal agencies earmarked more than $1.1 trillion taxpayer dollars to further Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in 2025,” Focus said. But the Center for Renewing America study doesn’t support that claim. CRA’s report said it identified 10 federal programs that together budgeted only $8.1 billion for direct spending on DEI.
Navajo Code Talkers Preston Toledo and Frank Toledo, (Photo: National Archives)
What about the rest? “At least $1 trillion was infused with DEI principles,” said CRA, which identified “460 programs across 24 government agencies (that) diverted resources to DEI initiatives.”
Among the problem programs CRA claimed as DEI were:
- A $2.2 billion Agriculture Department program that provided loans to Black farmers who previously faced racial discrimination in seeking loans
- A Department of Energy program helping minority communities address environmental pollution
- A Department of Health and Human Services program that works to serve “underserved populations”
Among the alleged DEI programs that have been cut are Defense Department web pages honoring Navajo code talkers.
Among the alleged DEI programs that have been cut are Defense Department web pages honoring Navajo code talkers who played a crucial role in the Allied victory in World War II and honoring a Native American soldier who helped raise the U.S. flag over Iwo Jima in 1945. These and other web pages highlighting the achievements of Black and female military members have been deleted, reported the Washington Post.
Meanwhile, Trump’s handling of the economy has spooked investors, sent consumer confidence tumbling, raised fears of a recession, and inspired the conservative Wall Street Journal to call Trump’s on-again-off-again tariffs on Canada and Mexico “The dumbest trade war in history.”
But “pro-family” groups support Trump’s economic moves, even though they’re harming families.
Focus on the Family claims “media and political agitators” are falsely sowing “panic.”
“They want to either confirm or change your opinion to be in alignment with their (usually) radically liberal point of view,” Focus claimed in its article, “In God’s Economy, There is No Need to Panic.”
“Recognizing the coordinated effort to rile you up is an important part of avoiding the tidal wave of worry,” Focus said. “Don’t take the bait.”
“Financial ups and downs are part of any capitalistic economy,” the article continued. “You might be interested to know there have been 48 recessions going back to America’s founding.”
Focus on the Family claims “media and political agitators” are falsely sowing “panic.”
Focus’ message of calm amid Trump’s economic uncertainty stands in stark contrast to the ministry’s coverage of economic problems during Joe Biden’s presidency:
- May 2024: “Americans Continue to Name Inflation as Top Family Financial Concern”
- March 2024: “Inflation Accelerates to 3.2%, Adding to Cost-of-Living for Families”
- 2023: “Middle-Class Americans Struggling Financially, New ‘Issues 2024’ Brief Reports”
- April 2023: “Families Struggling as GDP Report Shows Economy is Slowing, Recession in Sight”
- 2022: “Facing a Cornucopia of Rising Prices, Americans Place Thanksgiving Dinner on the Chopping Block”
- 2022: “Inflation Remains Elevated in September at 8.2%, Harming Struggling Families the Most.”
Focus founder James Dobson spent decades declaring God commands women to prioritize motherhood over career. This month, Focus on the Family offered differing takes on women who are active outside the home.
Jim Daly
On Friday, March 7, Focus CEO Jim Daly hosted a radio program, “Leading the Charge as a Woman,” that celebrated female leaders.
“Women do lead,” Daly said. “And over the last few decades, we’ve seen a rise in women leaders in our culture, and there’s no doubt that their influence will have a lasting impact.”
The next Tuesday, Focus’ Daily Citizen reaffirmed “the right of mothers to choose to stay home and raise their children.” Or not.
In an article, Focus praised a stay-at-home mom who isn’t staying home anymore: “Stay-at-home mom Breanna Nix has claimed her golden ticket after a moving audition for American Idol.”
“Congratulations to Breanna Nix for earning her golden ticket,” Focus said. “But as Breanna surely knows, her real ‘golden ticket’ in life is her marriage and motherhood — an important reminder for us all.”
Also, Idaho Family Policy Center, one of 41 state-based groups that partner with Focus on the Family, is promoting legislation requiring Bible reading in the state’s schools. The bill is sponsored by state representative Jordan Redman, who was homeschooled and whose six children are homeschooled.
Forbes summarized Redman’s bill: “Schools are to select the King James, the New King James, or the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, and have teachers read a bit each morning, sequentially, resulting in the entire Bible being read over 10 school years. Any student questions about the reading ‘shall be referred to the pupil’s parent or guardian.’”
Focus and its allied organization claim they promote religious freedom, but the Idaho legislation claims supremacy for the Bible and “does not open the door to the use of other religious texts, like the Quran or the Satanic Bible.”
The legislation also allows anyone to sue schools that are failing to observe the law.
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