E anche sui finanziamenti alle associazioni caritatevoli e religiose, Obama è così uguale a Bush da aver fatto molto arrabbiare il New York Times:
«Ignoring one of Mr. Obama’s own important campaign promises, and a large coalition of religious, education and civil rights groups, the new decree fails to draw a firm line barring employment discrimination on the basis of religion».
«President Obama firmly asserted that principle on the campaign trail in 2008. He seems to have forgotten».