I am using my column today to call attention to misinformation being shared by Elon Musk and associates connected with DOGE about the legitimate and long-standing public-private partnerships between the U.S. government and faith based non-profit organizations. There are stop work orders in places for USAID, refugee resettlement and more, along with confusion about whether or not payments for social security, Medicare, congress-approved grants to help with local law enforcement, Meals on Wheels, domestic violence shelters, etc. will continue without delay due to staff changes and DOGE actions at the Treasury Department and Office of Management and Budget.

On February 2, 2025, General Mike Flynn posted on X (formerly Twitter), complaining about “the ‘Lutheran’ faith” and, referring to federal grants provided to Lutheran Family Services and affiliated organizations, said, “this use of ‘religion’ as a money laundering operation must end.” When Musk shared Flynn’s post, he added: “The [DOGE] team is rapidly shutting down these illegal payments.”

With these posts, they are revealing how little they know about how social services work in our country. Government contracts with not-for-profit organizations (like the network of Lutheran Services in America) help provide a truly remarkable quantity and quality of services to the public at a lower cost and higher quality than government can provide alone, augmented by philanthropic monies. The system is transparent and efficient, and deserves tremendous accolades.

I appreciate how Lutheran Bishop Stacie Fidlar (IL) wrote about this topic: “Lutheran Services in America is one of the main providers of social services in this country. It is the result of the days they first stepped foot in this country [starting as homes for orphans, helping refugees, opening schools and hospitals.] Some Lutheran refugee and social service agencies have been at work in this country for over 150 years. They have filled in the gaps where the government has failed. They have helped untold numbers of people with adoption, family reunification, resettlement (remember, most of your families were refugees or immigrants), senior care, foster care. Lutherans run nursing homes that receive both Medicare and Medicaid payments - VERY possibly something that has cared for your family at some point. The Lutheran Services in America partners (ELCA and LCMS) reach 1 in 50 people in this country every year. And they are some of the most desperately in need and vulnerable.

“And all of these Lutheran services have legitimate government contracts. As do their Episcopal and Roman Catholic and mainline and evangelical partners. Why do they do this work? Not for profit. Literally. They do it because it’s the work in the gospel. It is our call. And they have legitimate government contracts to do it. There is no money laundering here. There isn’t even profit here. There is the legitimate fulfillment of contracts to care for people. Period.”

And, a statement from Global Refuge, formerly Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service: “Global Refuge condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the false accusations lodged against our humanitarian work. As a faith-based nonprofit, we have faithfully walked alongside legally admitted refugees and immigrants for more than 85 years. This includes Afghan allies who risked their lives to protect U.S. troops, as well as persecuted Christians, all of whom have been extensively vetted and approved by multiple U.S. government agencies before traveling to our country.

“We also remain committed to caring for unaccompanied children forced to flee unimaginable circumstances in their home countries to seek safety in the United States. Across Democratic and Republican administrations, we have partnered with the U.S. government to protect vulnerable children, safeguard them against human trafficking, and safely reunify them with their parent(s) or guardian.

“Rooted in our proud Lutheran heritage, Global Refuge and our dedicated network of providers stand ready to assist the new administration in welcoming families who need to resettle in our country, helping ensure they learn our language, secure jobs that help our economy grow, and quickly become vital contributors to communities. To do otherwise would run contrary to the spirit of our Christian faith, America’s identity as a nation of immigrants, and our role as a global humanitarian leader.” www.globalrefugee.org

Pastor Elizabeth Bier

ONE in Christ Lutheran Parish

Our Savior’s-Greenwood

Nazareth-Withee

Emmanuel-Longwood