President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14202 in February and Executive Order 14291 in May. The former aims to eradicate anti-Christian bias in the United States and established a task force to review government policies and practices that may discriminate against Christians and to recommend actions to protect religious liberties. The latter is intended to enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in federal law.
On Monday the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) directed all federal agencies to take affirmative steps to protect religious expression in the workplace.
"Under President Trump's leadership, we are restoring constitutional freedoms and making government a place where people of faith are respected, not sidelined," OPM Director Scott Kuper stated in a press release. "This guidance ensures the federal workplace is not just compliant with the law but welcoming to Americans of all faiths."
"Federal employees should never have to choose between their faith and their career," Kupor added.
In a July 16 memo, Kupor addressed the topic of "reasonable accommodations for religious purposes" in a directive to all heads and acting heads of federal departments and agencies. He noted Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and a 2022 Supreme Court decision that clarified employers are required to demonstrate substantial increased costs to deny a reasonable religious accommodation request.
"In addition," Kupor stated in July, "it is in the interest of the federal government to recruit and retain highly qualified employees of faith."
Kupor was sworn in as OPM director on July 14, saying he planned to prioritize Trump's "America First" agenda.
