Trump Administration Issues Sweeping New Religious Liberty Guidance for Federal Agencies

The Trump administration unveiled comprehensive new guidance Thursday requiring federal agencies to prioritize religious liberty protections when developing regulations, enforcing laws and managing workplace accommodations. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the directive, which marks the first significant update to Justice Department religious liberty policy since 2017 and incorporates nearly a decade of Supreme Court precedent expanding religious exercise safeguards.

The updated memorandum instructs executive branch agencies to align their operations with the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and recent high court decisions protecting religious Americans. The guidance spans multiple policy domains including federal employment, contracting, grant programs, regulatory development and law enforcement actions.

Under the new framework, federal agencies must evaluate religious liberty implications earlier in the rulemaking process, provide workplace accommodations for religious expression as legally required, and ensure religious organizations compete equitably with secular entities for federal funding and contracts. The guidance also reinforces constitutional rights protecting churches’ internal governance and parents’ authority over their children’s religious education.

The memorandum directly references two Supreme Court victories championed by religious liberty advocates. Kennedy v. Bremerton School District affirmed First Amendment protections for a public school football coach’s postgame prayer, while Groff v. DeJoy established that employers must generally accommodate employees’ religious practices unless such accommodation creates substantial operational hardship.

Kelly Shackelford, president and chief counsel of First Liberty Institute, praised the administration’s action as protecting “America’s first freedom.” The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Policy will continue reviewing proposed regulations and government actions to ensure compliance with federal religious liberty standards.