Trump's push against "anti-Christian bias" hits federal workers
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The Trump administration is ramping up its efforts to crack down on what it calls "anti-Christian bias," telling federal workers to report any instances of such discrimination they've seen or experienced.
Why it matters: The move reflects a persistent claim by President Trump's campaign as he courted evangelicals — that Christians are under attack in the U.S. — and is part of an ongoing push by conservatives to inject more religion into government.
Zoom in: The administration's message is drawing criticism from federal workers and some Christian faith groups.
- They say it's confusing and possibly problematic for people — including Christians — who don't identify with the type of evangelicals the White House is trying to support.
- Some worry, for example, that those who don't observe Christmas could be accused of anti-Christian bias.
- Critics also point out that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act already prohibits religious discrimination in federal programs.
The big picture: The movement to put more religion in public settings and institutions is unfolding as the percentage of white Christians in the U.S. continues to decline, and an increasing share of Americans identify with no religious affiliation.
- Trump and many conservative Republicans have seized upon those societal and religious shifts to raise alarms within their loyal, white evangelical base.
- "The entire project of so-called anti-Christian bias is simply a play to [the administration's] white evangelical base," says Robert P. Jones, president and founder of the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute.
Catch up quick: The White House and the conservative-led Supreme Court both appear to be willing to give religious groups, particularly Christian ones, special consideration under the law.
- Last week, Trump issued an executive order on religion, creating what he called a commission on religious liberty. He'd already announced a Faith Office and a plan aimed at "eradicating anti-Christian bias" that cited alleged anti-Christian activity by the Biden administration.
- Trump ordered up a task force on anti-Christian bias led by the Justice Department, with agency heads as members. They met for the first time in April.
State of play: The order for federal workers to report any "anti-Christian bias" came after that meeting.
- VA Secretary Doug Collins sent a department-wide email last month asking employees to "submit any instance of anti-Christian discrimination."
- He said examples would include "any retaliatory actions taken in response to religious holiday observances," and "any observations of mistreatment for not participating in events or activities inconsistent with Christian views."
The VA is still figuring out what happens next.
- The agency is "staffing the anti-Christian bias task force and developing a framework for handling issues flagged by VA employees," VA Press Secretary, Pete Kasperowicz said in an email to Axios.
- "If there is bias, we want to find it, we want to make it right," a White House official told Axios.
- At the State Department, a few "concerning allegations" surfaced, the official said.
What they're saying: The VA used to send out official emails to staff that would highlight all kinds of religious holidays and traditions, one agency employee told Axios, requesting anonymity out of fear of retaliation.
- That all stopped after the anti-DEI push following Trump's inauguration. "It's just very clear who is and is not welcome right now," the employee said.
- "Asking employees to report unlawful bias is not, by itself, unlawful. If done honestly it is a good thing," said David Super, a Georgetown Law School professor whose research focuses on administrative law.
- But administration officials "seem to be making little effort to explain or define what anti-Christian bias is," he said. "I fear that some people will think that Jews, Muslims or others who do not celebrate Christian holidays will be reported for anti-Christian bias."
- Critics also point out that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act already prohibits religious discrimination in federal programs.
Any notion that such efforts are biased toward Christians is a misunderstanding, the White House official said.
- "President Trump has raised the face of faith in America to the highest level," the official said, adding that the faith office "gives a prominence to all people of faith."
- There will be other religion-oriented task forces, including one on anti-Semitism, the official said.
