Trump Rewrites Rules On Religion In Gov’t Offices With New Memo
The Trump administration unveiled new guidelines for new advice on Monday aimed at strengthening the protections of religious freedom for federal employees, marking one of the most important measures for decades to support religious expression within the public service.
The Personnel Management Office (OPM) sent a memo to the government level entitled “Protecting religious expression in the federal workplace” to all federal agencies.
The directive, obtained by Fox News Digital, has updated standards to allow employees to express their religious beliefs without fear of reprisals. (Related: Vance promises that Trump will reverse the “absurd” approach to problems of religious freedom, will promote “moral clarity”)
THANKS @Potus To restore our constitutional law and the free exercise of religion! https: //t.co/g2biccofq
– Scott Turner (@SecretaryTurner) July 28, 2025
“Federal employees should never have to choose between their faith and their career,” said OPM director Scott Kupor at the point of sale. “These directives guarantee that the federal workplace is not only in accordance with the law but welcoming for Americans of all confessions.”
The new policy explicitly authorizes federal workers to display personal religious objects – such as Bibles, Crucifixes, Mezuza, Tefillin pearls and rosary – at their office, pray in groups during leaves on leave, do not talk about their faith and even invite colleagues to religious events, provided that such actions do not disrupt agency operations.
Kupor stressed that the religious expression is protected by the first amendment as well as federal laws such as title VII of the civil rights law.
“Allowing religious discrimination in the federal workplace violates the law,” said the note. “He also threatens to have a negative impact on the recruitment and retention of highly qualified employees.”
The agencies are now responsible for reviewing and revising internal policies to ensure that they are aligned with constitutional and legal protections for religious expression. Kupor stressed that restrictions must be neutral, and an agency can only prohibit religious posters or symbols while authorizing secular posters.
“Under the leadership of President Trump, we restore constitutional freedoms and make government a place where people of faith are respected, not sidelined,” Kupor told Fox News Digital.
The new guidelines should take immediate effect in all federal departments.
