Photo: Alamy
Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has taken a bold stand to protect religious liberty in the federal workforce by prioritizing American values and constitutional rights.
Just two days after his swearing in on July 14, OPM Director Scott Kupor issued robust guidance to agency directors, cracking down on religious discrimination and ensuring federal employees can practice their faith without fear of penalty.
This move aligns with Trump’s America First agenda and emphasizes freedom, faith, and fairness for hardworking Americans.
The memo mandates that agencies accommodate “reasonable” religious needs through teleworking, flexible schedules, or leave options, which ensure operational efficiency while honoring employees’ beliefs.
Kupor cited Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in Groff v. DeJoy, which clarified that employers must show substantial costs to deny religious accommodation.
“Agencies are encouraged to adopt a generous approach to approving religious accommodations, prioritizing employee needs while maintaining operational efficiency,” Kupor wrote, reinforcing America’s commitment to individual liberty.
This guidance reflects President Trump’s May executive order, which established the Religious Liberty Commission and declared it the executive branch’s policy to “vigorously enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal law” and eliminate “any form of religious discrimination by the Federal Government.”
Kupor emphasized the President’s steadfastness. “In addition, it is in the interest of the Federal government to recruit and retain highly-qualified employees of faith.” This aligns with the America First principle of valuing skilled workers who uphold traditional values.
“Religious liberty is foundational,” Kupor told Fox News Digital. “No federal employee should be forced to choose between their faith and their federal service.” The policy ensures accommodations, such as religious compensatory time off or flexible schedules, even as agencies enforce in-person work requirements.
OPM clarified that “reasonable religious accommodations are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and must be provided consistent with law.”