On November 18, 2021, ACF issued a letter to withdraw the January 23, 2019 exception letter granted to the designated grantee and subgrantees in the South Carolina foster care program using religious criteria to select among prospective foster care parents.
HHS is reestablishing its long-standing Department practice of evaluation of religious exemptions and modifications of program requirements on a case-by-case basis, as needed, and as is required by law. ACF will not condone the blanket use of religious exemptions against any person or blank checks to allow discrimination against any persons, including LGBTQ+ persons, in taxpayer-funded programs.