Trump officials encourage religious speech in U.S. federal workplace
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES — The Trump administration is encouraging federal employees to express their religious beliefs at work under new guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Outlined in a memo titled “Protecting Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace,” this move endorses open faith-based conversation and practices among government workers.
Federal employees are now explicitly allowed to display religious items, pray in groups during non-work hours, and discuss their faith with colleagues, so long as such actions are not harassing.
“Allowing religious discrimination in the Federal workplace violates the law,” wrote OPM Director Scott Kupor.
“It also threatens to adversely impact recruitment and retention of highly-qualified employees of faith.”
Agencies can regulate, but not limit content
The memo also clarifies that while agencies may regulate the time, place, and manner of employee speech, they cannot discriminate based on content or viewpoint, including religious views.
This could mean, for example, that a park ranger leading a prayer during a tour or a Department of Veterans Affairs doctor praying over a patient would not face restrictions.
“Employees may also encourage their co-workers to participate in religious expressions of faith, such as prayer, to the same extent that they would be permitted to encourage co-workers participate in other personal activities,” Kupor clarified.
At the same time, the memo warns employees not to harass or pressure others.
“Federal employees may engage in conversations regarding religious topics with fellow employees, including attempting to persuade others of the correctness of their own religious views, provided that such efforts are not harassing in nature,” Kupor wrote.
Shift from past guidance, building on precedent
Legal and HR experts note the guidance is a shift in tone, if not in substance.
“It encourages employees to express their religious beliefs in the workplace,” said Stefanie Camfield of Engage PEO, whereas historically, employers have tried to minimize religious conversation to avoid conflict.
She cautioned that “the more religion is allowed into the workplace, the more likely it is that differences of opinion are raised,” which can escalate to hostility and feelings of discrimination.
The OPM guidance follows other faith-friendly moves by the administration, including a February executive order and new policies allowing telework and schedule flexibility for religious reasons.
However, protections for religious expression in federal workplaces are not new—1997 guidance from the Clinton administration also prohibited suppression of private religious speech and allowed for religious displays in non-public work areas.
Despite the administration’s faith-friendly rhetoric, federal agencies remain bound by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bars religious discrimination and mandates accommodations for a broad spectrum of beliefs.
As Brian Grim of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation notes, the new guidance could help restore “faith-based employee resource groups [ERGs]” suspended when diversity offices shut down.
