In a sweeping move aimed at strengthening religious freedom across the federal government, the Trump administration has directed all federal agencies to ensure employees can freely express and practice their faith in the workplace, so long as it does not interfere with official duties.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which serves as the federal government’s human resources agency, released a government-wide memo on Monday outlining existing federal laws that protect religious expression and giving agencies specific guidance to ensure compliance.
“The federal workforce should be a welcoming place for federal employees who practice a religious faith,” the OPM memo stated. “Allowing religious discrimination in the federal workplace violates the law. It also threatens to adversely impact recruitment and retention of highly-qualified employees of faith.”
The memo provides examples of acceptable religious expression, including:
Displaying personal religious items such as Bibles, rosaries, or prayer beads at one’s desk.
Wearing religious clothing or accessories, including crosses or shirts with faith-based messages.
Praying or studying religious texts during personal time like lunch or scheduled breaks.
Discussing religion with colleagues and even inviting them to church, provided the interaction remains respectful and non-coercive.
Importantly, the guidance draws a clear line: religious expression must not interfere with job responsibilities or disrupt the workplace. For instance, group prayer can occur during breaks, but not during active duty time.
The memo emphasizes that federal employees retain their rights to religious expression even while on the job, provided they are doing so in their personal capacity. An example given is a security guard at a federal building who may display religious symbols at their post, as long as the expression does not imply government endorsement.
“Federal employees should never have to choose between their faith and their career,” said OPM Director Scott Kupor. “This guidance ensures the federal workplace is not just compliant with the law but welcoming to Americans of all faiths. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are restoring constitutional freedoms and making government a place where people of faith are respected, not sidelined.”
This initiative builds on a previous OPM directive issued earlier this month, which addressed reasonable religious accommodations. The agency encouraged flexible scheduling, telework, and use of paid time off to allow employees to observe religious holidays or participate in faith-based events.
Faith-based organizations and advocates praised the administration’s efforts as a return to foundational constitutional principles.
“For ordinary Catholics serving in government and across the nation, these commitments are not mere policy: they are a restoration of our most fundamental freedoms,” said Kelsey Reinhardt, president of Catholic Vote. “Living our faith in public… has always been part of the American promise.”
Since his first term, President Trump has positioned himself as a champion of religious liberty, particularly for Christians. His administration includes individuals of diverse religious backgrounds — including Christians, Jews, and members of other faiths — in high-ranking roles. Earlier this year, Trump signed an executive order aimed at combating anti-Christian bias and formed a Religious Liberty Commission composed of clergy, scholars, media figures, and political leaders.
Additionally, the administration launched a dedicated Office of Faith to coordinate with religious organizations on policy, outreach, and social service initiatives.
Critics have raised concerns in the past that broad religious expression policies could blur the lines between church and state. However, OPM’s memo maintains that the rights being affirmed are consistent with constitutional protections and Supreme Court precedent.
The administration’s position is clear: protecting the rights of religious Americans in government service is not a political gesture, but a constitutional duty.
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