OPM issues new advice to protect religious expression through federal workforce

First on Fox: Federal agencies are now required to protect the religious expression in the workplace, according to a new memo on the government’s scale obtained by Fox News Digital on Monday – marking one of the most radical movements for decades to defend the faith and the freedoms of the public service.

The Personnel Management Office (OPM) sent advice to federal agencies on Monday through the Trump administration, detailing new requirements, which guarantee that federal workers can display Bibles, Crucifix or Mezuzahs on their desk; Pray in groups during his leave; invite colleagues to church; And talk about their religious beliefs, even to the public, without fear of reprisals.

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The memo, entitled “Protection of religious expression in the federal workplace”, was sent to agencies by the director of the OPM Scott Kupor on Monday, and obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump praying with the religious leaders of the oval office. (White House)

“Federal employees should never have to choose between their faith and their career,” said OPM director Scott Kupor to Fox News Digital. “These directives guarantee that the federal workplace is not only in accordance with the law but welcoming for Americans of all confessions.”

Kupor added: “Under the leadership of President Trump, we restore constitutional freedoms and make government a place where people of faith are respected and not sidelined.”

In the memo, Kupor details that federal workforce “should be a welcoming place for federal employees who practice religious faith”.

“Authorize religious discrimination in the federal workplace violates the law. It also threatens to have a negative impact on the recruitment and retention of very qualified employees of the faith,” said the memo. “The first amendment to the American Constitution protects the expressions of religious faith by all Americans, including federal employees.”

Kupor noted that freedom of religious expression is also protected by federal laws, which “prohibit the federal government to discriminate employment based on religion or religious expression”.

OPM Scott KUPOR Director (David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“This memorandum provides advice to the agencies on the robust protection and application of each federal employee to engage in the religious expression in the federal workplace in accordance with the American Constitution, in title VII and other sources of applicable law,” Kupor wrote in memory. “Agency should allow the personal religious expression of federal employees to the greatest possible extent, unless this expression can impose excessive difficulties on commercial operations. And they should review and (if necessary) revise their internal policies to ensure that they are properly protected religious expression.”

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Kupor details examples of religious expressions that are authorized, including employees who kept bibles on their desk and read it during breaks; Keep rosaries or tefillin on their desk and use these items to pray during breaks.

Kupor notes that agencies “can restrict all posters, but an agency cannot distinguish religious posters, such as those of a crucifix, a biblical verse or a David star, for harder treatment”.

“An employee can wear a cross, as well as clothes displaying a religious message,” wrote Kupor.

Kupor also detailed the appropriate conversations between federal employees on religion.

The Reverend Franklin Graham, president and chief executive officer of Samaritan’s Purse, prays during the inauguration of President Donald Trump on Monday January 2025. (Samaritan’s Purse)

“During a break, an employee can engage another in a polished discussion on the reasons why his faith is correct and why the non-members should rethink his religious beliefs. However, if the non-members request such attempts to stop, the employee should honor the request,” Kupor wrote. “An employee can invite another to worship in her church although it belongs to a different faith.”

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Kupor added: “On a babbles for personal announcements, a supervisor can publish a handwritten note inviting each of his employees to attend an Easter service in his church.”

As for expressions intended for public members, Kupor gave an example that “a childminder leading a visit to a national park can join his prayer tour group” and “a doctor in a hospital of veterans (VA) can pray for her patient for her recovery”.

President and republican presidential candidate Donald Trump begs during a round table with Latin American community leaders in Trump National Doral Miami Resort in Miami, Florida, October 22, 2024. (Chandan Khanna / AFP via Getty Images)

The MEMO OPM comes after President Trump’s decrees on the eradication of anti-Christian prejudices and the creation of a commission of religious freedom.

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The memo is also based on the advice of the OPM at the beginning of the month on reasonable housing for religious purposes.

Trump signed an executive decree establishing a White House religious office in February.

The office allows denominational entities, community organizations and worship “to better serve families and communities”, according to the White House.

The office is hosted by the Council of Domestic Policy and consults experts from the religious community on policy changes to “better align with American values”.