Hindu groups HSS USA and BAPS join White House Faith Office dialogue
Synopsis
For the first time under the Trump administration's White House Faith Office, two major Hindu American organisations — HSS USA and BAPS Public Affairs — sat at the table for a two-hour dialogue on religious freedom. It is a quiet but significant milestone: Hindu Americans now have a formal seat in a White House faith engagement process that could shape religious liberty policy.
Key Takeaways
HSS USA and BAPS Public Affairs represented Hindu Americans at a White House Faith Office dialogue on 12 July .
The meeting lasted approximately two hours and covered religious freedom and issues affecting faith communities.
The White House Faith Office was established by President Donald Trump in February 2025 under the Domestic Policy Council .
Faith Office Director Jennifer Korn personally thanked participants in a post-meeting video message.
Both organisations issued statements welcoming the dialogue as an opportunity to represent Hindu Americans at the federal level.
Representatives of two prominent Hindu organisations in the United States — Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS USA) and BAPS Public Affairs — participated in a White House Faith Office dialogue on 12 July, joining faith leaders from across the country for discussions on issues affecting religious communities. The gathering marked a notable moment of formal engagement between Hindu American organisations and the Trump administration's newly established faith outreach apparatus.
What Happened at the Dialogue
The event, convened by the White House Faith Office, brought together representatives from diverse faith traditions for a briefing and open dialogue on matters important to faith communities nationwide. According to statements shared by the participating organisations, both HSS USA and BAPS Public Affairs represented Hindu Americans at the gathering, which lasted approximately two hours.
HSS USA expressed appreciation for the opportunity in a post-event statement. 'HSS USA thanks the White House Faith Office for convening a dialogue on issues important to faith communities and for the opportunity to represent Hindu Americans,' the organisation said. It added: 'It was heartwarming to join in diverse faith traditions of prayer while sharing the same aspiration — the wellbeing of all Americans and the welfare of our nation.'
BAPS Public Affairs Welcomes the Engagement
BAPS Public Affairs also welcomed the administration's outreach. 'BAPS joined faith leaders from across the country for a briefing hosted by the White House Faith Office on matters important to faith communities,' it said in a statement. 'As a representative of many Hindu Americans nationwide, BAPS welcomed the opportunity to contribute to this important and ongoing dialogue.'
White House Faith Office Director's Remarks
In a brief video message released after the meeting, White House Faith Office Director Jennifer Korn thanked participants directly. 'Hi, I'm Jenny Corn with the White House Faith Office and I'm here with Bindu (from HSS) and we just spent about two hours together talking about religious freedom and we're so grateful for all of you and God bless you and we welcome all faith here at the White House,' Korn said.
About the White House Faith Office
The White House Faith Office was established by President Donald Trump in February 2025 and operates as part of the Domestic Policy Council. The office describes its mission as engaging religious communities and ensuring that people of faith have a voice on policy issues affecting them. A White House document marking the office's first anniversary states it was established to 'be a voice for people of faith and ensure faith is protected and respected in America.' The office works with leaders from multiple religious traditions on issues spanning religious liberty, community partnerships, and public policy.
Significance for Hindu Americans
The participation of HSS USA and BAPS signals a growing effort by Hindu American organisations to engage directly with federal policymakers on religious freedom and community concerns. This comes amid broader conversations in the US about the role of faith communities in shaping domestic policy. Notably, the White House Faith Office's inclusive outreach — spanning multiple religious traditions — represents a formal institutional channel that Hindu groups have now entered. How this engagement translates into policy outcomes for Hindu Americans remains to be seen.
Point of View
Not just photo opportunities. The White House Faith Office is still less than six months old, and its institutional weight remains untested. Hindu American organisations would do well to track whether the 'ongoing dialogue' Korn referenced translates into concrete representation on policy decisions — or remains a goodwill gesture in a crowded faith outreach calendar.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Hindu organisations participated in the White House Faith Office dialogue?
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS USA) and BAPS Public Affairs represented Hindu Americans at the White House Faith Office dialogue on 12 July. Both organisations issued statements welcoming the opportunity to engage with the administration on issues affecting faith communities.
What is the White House Faith Office?
The White House Faith Office is a body established by President Donald Trump in February 2025, operating under the Domestic Policy Council. Its stated mission is to engage religious communities and ensure that people of faith have a voice on issues affecting them, covering religious liberty, community partnerships, and public policy.
What was discussed at the White House Faith Office dialogue?
Participants spent approximately two hours discussing religious freedom and matters important to faith communities across the United States. White House Faith Office Director Jennifer Korn confirmed the focus on religious freedom in a post-meeting video message.
Why does this dialogue matter for Hindu Americans?
The participation of HSS USA and BAPS marks a formal entry of Hindu American organisations into a White House faith engagement process, giving them a direct channel to raise community concerns at the federal level. It reflects the growing political visibility of Hindu Americans as an organised constituency in the United States.
Who leads the White House Faith Office?
The White House Faith Office is directed by Jennifer Korn, who personally thanked participants after the 12 July dialogue in a brief video message. The office operates from the White House as part of the Domestic Policy Council.
