The Freedom From Religion Foundation denounces a new State Department directive that encourages employees to anonymously report alleged “anti-Christian bias” among colleagues.
This is a dangerous and unconstitutional move that promotes religious favoritism under the guise of protecting religious freedom. As reported by Politico, the directive is part of a broader executive order to “eradicate anti-Christian bias” from the federal government. The directive states that the department is soliciting reports of “anti-religious bias” on the part of the previous presidential administration. It specifically urges employees to come forward if they experienced repercussions for “refusing to participate in events or activities that promote themes inconsistent with or hostile to one’s religious beliefs” — language broad enough to include diversity trainings or inclusion efforts that were standard policy under the prior administration.
“This directive is reminiscent of the Red Scare or authoritarian regimes where citizens are encouraged to inform on each other, which creates fear, paranoia and the suppression of dissent,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “It is deeply antithetical to the values of a secular democracy and poses a direct threat to genuine religious liberty.”
By singling out “anti-Christian bias” — and only that — the State Department is signaling unconstitutional religious favoritism. The directive ignores the existence of discrimination against religious minorities and the nonreligious, instead reinforcing a false narrative that Christians are uniquely persecuted in a nation which protects the free exercise of religion and where they remain the dominant majority. Christians make up roughly two-thirds of the U.S. population and 87 percent of Congress.
The State Department’s internal task force is scheduled to meet on April 22 to review any complaints it receives. But the very premise of the directive is flawed: It presumes Christians are frequent victims of discrimination in federal workplaces and ignores the actual religious diversity — and the potential for religious coercion — in public institutions.
“What exactly qualifies as ‘anti-Christian bias’ in this context?” adds FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. “Displaying a rainbow flag? Saying ‘Happy Holidays’? Upholding science-based public health policy? This directive isn’t about fairness or equity — it’s about enforcing a Christian nationalist agenda.”
FFRF warns that this initiative will have a chilling effect on free speech, workplace cohesion and constitutional governance. By encouraging employees to report on one another for perceived slights, the government is prioritizing political theater over the real needs of a diverse federal workforce.
“This isn’t about protecting Christians — it’s about promoting Christian supremacy,” says Gaylor. “And it’s part of a larger campaign to undermine the constitutional wall separating church and state.”
FFRF calls on the State Department to immediately rescind this directive and cease its “anti-Christian bias” witch hunt. Government policies must protect the rights of all employees equally — without promoting or privileging any religious viewpoint.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters of nontheism. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
