Task Force Addresses Religious Discrimination in Federal Agencies
In a significant step toward addressing religious discrimination in America, Attorney General Pamela Bondi convened the inaugural meeting of the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias in the Federal Government on April 22, at the U.S. Department of Justice. Established under Executive Order 14202 by President Trump, the task force aims to protect the religious freedoms of Christian Americans who faced unfair targeting during the Biden Administration. The meeting brought together members of the President’s Cabinet and Christian individuals who shared personal accounts of alleged bias.
Read More
Voices of the Affected
The task force heard compelling testimonies from several witnesses who claimed to have been unfairly targeted for their Christian beliefs:
- Michael Farris, a First Amendment litigator and elder at Cornerstone Church, represented Senior Pastor Gary Hamrick. He detailed how the church faced IRS investigations and charges for alleged violations of the Johnson Amendment, which restricts political activities by tax-exempt organizations. Farris, formerly of Alliance Defending Freedom, criticized the scrutiny as an overreach targeting the church’s religious stance.
- Dr. Scott Hicks, Provost of Liberty University, recounted how Liberty University and Grand Canyon University were fined by the Biden Administration, allegedly due to their Christian worldviews. He argued that these institutions were singled out for upholding their faith-based values.
- Phil Mendes, a Navy SEAL, shared his experience of being relieved of duty after his religious exemption request for the COVID-19 vaccine was denied by the Department of Defense. Mendes’ case highlighted broader concerns about religious accommodations in the military.
Attorney General Bondi condemned the previous administration’s actions, stating, “Biden’s Department of Justice abused and targeted peaceful Christians while ignoring violent, anti-Christian offenses. Thanks to President Trump, we have ended those abuses, and we will continue to work closely with every member of this Task Force to protect every American’s right to speak and worship freely.”
Agency-Specific Allegations
Task force members from various federal agencies presented evidence of systemic bias against Christians during the Biden Administration:
- FBI Director Kash Patel addressed an anti-Catholic memo issued by the FBI’s Richmond office, pledging to eliminate any anti-Christian bias influencing FBI decisions or investigations.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised concerns about Christian Foreign Service Officers facing retaliation for homeschooling their children. In one case, a family was threatened with a child abuse investigation and IRS scrutiny for their choice to homeschool. Rubio also highlighted instances where Christian employees were stigmatized for opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates on religious grounds, including verbal harassment from superiors. Additionally, he noted that Christian holidays at U.S. embassies were often secularized, while non-Christian holidays retained their religious significance.
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. discussed how St. Francis Health System in Oklahoma was ordered to extinguish a sanctuary candle or risk losing federal funding for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. He also criticized rules that made it harder for Christians to become foster parents.
- Secretary of Education Linda McMahon highlighted the cases of Oregon educators Katie Medart and Rachel Sager, who were suspended and terminated for launching the “I Resolve” movement. The initiative addressed gender identity education policies while advocating for educators’ rights to teach in alignment with their conscience. McMahon also cited a New York school district that treated a middle-school girl as a boy without parental consent, violating the family’s religious liberties.
- Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender addressed financial surveillance issues, including the IRS’s removal of tax classifications for Christian and pro-life organizations, the Treasury’s failure to address “debanking” of faith-based groups, and FinCEN’s labeling of some pro-Christian groups as “hate groups.”
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins discussed efforts to reverse a speech code that punished Chaplain Trubey at the Coatesville VA Medical Center for preaching a Bible-based sermon.
- Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley criticized the Biden Administration’s push for gender ideology in schools, foster care, sports, and healthcare, accusing former DPC Director Neera Tanden of coordinating these efforts.
A Unified Commitment Moving Forward
The meeting underscored a collective resolve to safeguard religious freedoms. Attendees included prominent figures such as Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and White House Faith Office advisors Pastor Paula White-Cain and Jennifer Korn, among others. Their presence signaled a broad, high-level commitment to addressing the task force’s objectives.
The Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias represents a proactive effort to restore and protect religious liberties in the federal government. By amplifying the voices of those who faced discrimination and scrutinizing agency practices, the task force aims to ensure that Christian Americans can exercise their faith without fear of retaliation. As Attorney General Bondi and her colleagues continue their work, the nation watches closely to see how this initiative will shape the future of religious freedom in America.
Image: Attorney General Pamela Bondi with members of the Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias Task Force at the U.S. Department of Justice.
