Lutheran Faith members react to potential cost cutting measures
Members of Lutheran aid groups are voicing concern that Elon Musk may push for cuts to Lutheran Life Services nationwide, potentially threatening vital community programs and support for vulnerable populations.
Musk, a billionaire tech entrepreneur connected to the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has moved to rapidly transform the federal government during President Donald Trump’s first month back in office.
The 53-year-old CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, two of the world’s most valuable companies, also owns one of the largest social media platforms in the world, known as X.
Musk openly shares his thoughts on a wide variety of topics and issues on the platform. Some of those thoughts have been centered around DOGE’s daily operations, including earlier this month when he chimed in on a post from retired United States General Michael Flynn.
Flynn, who briefly served as National Security Advisor under Trump during his first term, wrote scathing remarks on X, accusing several national Lutheran organizations of money laundering.
“Lutheran Family Services and affiliated organizations receive massive amounts of taxpayer dollars, and the numbers speak for themselves. These funds, total BILLIONS of American taxpayer dollars,” Flynn wrote in a post on Feb. 1.
“It’s time to hold these organizations accountable. American taxpayers deserve transparency. Enough is enough,” the post continued.
Musk quoted the post the next day, writing “The @DOGE team is rapidly shutting down these illegal payments.”
While many of the organizations around Butler County and surrounding counties are not large enough to directly take in federal funding, some funding is appropriated to the states or other government agencies that then distribute those funds.
Glade Run Lutheran Services, for example, does not take in any direct federal funding, according to president and CEO Steven Green. The same can be said for Lutheran SeniorLife Passavant Community located in Zelienople. Both of those institutions are affiliated with the Lutheran faith, but have no connections to organizations that bring in federal funding on a national scale.
However, Evan City’s St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Pastor Brandon Johns said cutting funding for national organizations would have ripple effects on a host of groups, such as seniors, people with disabilities and children in the foster care system.
“Two of the biggest ones (issues) would be a reduction in service,” said Johns. “It’s hard enough to try and find places to have senior care and rehabilitation and things of that nature as it is. Those are also major employers in our area, too. That would, of course, impact that statistic as well, dramatically.”
National organizations representing the Lutheran faith also defended the work that service organizations perform for underserved community members across the United States.
“Despite misinformation and baseless doubt cast today on funding that supports Lutheran organizations across our country, the ELCA remains steadfast in our commitment and work with our many Lutheran partners and expressions of our church,” Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America said. “The ECLA is also concerned for other faith-based communities and organizations who have similarly come under attack.”
While there hasn’t been any official announcements in regards to cost-cutting measures, there’s still a fear that it could happen at a moment’s notice considering the unprecedented speed at which actions are being taken at the federal level.
“There’s some serious concerns about funding freezing that could happen as we receive grants to operate senior centers and community places that offer home-delivered meals to people,” said Johns. “We’re trying to make sure that people understand who we are and what we’re doing and the reasons and that they’re all positive.
“None of our agencies or the people in them are doing this for as some kind of get-rich scheme or trying to get it over on someone else.”
While it’s unclear what actions could be taken moving forward, Johns said he just wants the public to know that the service work is meaningful to many Western Pennsylvania community members.
“I just want to make sure people know what the real story is and that we’re your neighbors, serving alongside of people taking care of you and your loved ones and families as best as we can,” he said. “That’s who we feel called to be. My hope is when the truth is out there, and we know and understand each other, then we will support each other and fight for each other where we need to.”
