WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal employees may now more freely express and promote their religious beliefs in the workplace, according to new guidance issued by the Trump administration, marking a significant shift in the federal government’s stance on religious expression at work.
In a memo released Monday, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Scott Kupor said agency staff can “persuade others of the correctness of their own religious views,” and that supervisors may even discuss their faith with subordinates — so long as the behavior is not considered harassing.
“Federal workers should not fear punishment for expressing their religious views or declining to engage in conversations about religion,” Kupor wrote.
The new directive builds on President Donald Trump’s February executive order directing federal agencies to eliminate what he termed the “anti-Christian weaponization of government.”
The order called on department heads to identify and roll back policies perceived to be hostile toward Christian beliefs.
While the guidance references constitutional protections under the First Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars religious discrimination in the workplace, it stops short of carrying legal force.
Courts have long allowed limited religious expression at work but have also upheld boundaries when such expression becomes disruptive or coercive.
Prayer Groups and Flexible Hours
The memo says federal workers may form prayer groups, provided they meet during non-working hours, and can display religious items at their desks.
It also reiterates a previous July policy that allows employees to adjust work hours or work remotely to accommodate religious observances, such as daily prayers.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces Title VII, warns that proselytizing in the workplace can amount to unlawful religious harassment if it is unwelcome and pervasive.
However, the agency also states that a “spirited” discussion about religion does not violate the law if it is consensual.
Legal experts caution that while Kupor’s memo may influence internal agency practices, it is not legally binding and could face challenges if courts view it as extending beyond the protections provided by law.
Political Undertones
The policy shift aligns with Trump’s continued courtship of Christian conservatives, who have been vocal about what they see as growing hostility toward religious expression in public life.
The six-month-old Republican administration has made religion a focal point in various government functions, including education, health, and foreign aid.
Critics argue the administration’s emphasis on Christian religious freedom risks blurring the line between church and state, potentially marginalizing employees of other faiths — or none at all — in the federal workforce.
Still, for supporters, the memo represents a long-sought affirmation of religious liberty.
“This is about protecting the right of federal workers to live out their faith without fear,” a senior administration official said.
Whether the courts will ultimately uphold this expanded interpretation of workplace religious freedom remains to be seen.
For now, agencies are being asked to comply with the new guidelines unless and until they are challenged.
