Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany reports on the Department of Justice’s investigation into Major League Baseball following allegations that players were warned against displaying Bible verses on their hats. McEnany highlights the importance of federal law, notably Title VII, which obliges employers to reasonably accommodate religious beliefs. She questions the MLB’s inconsistency, pointing out previous allowances for slogans like ‘SOS Cuba’ and ‘BLM’ on player uniforms without similar warnings.
The Trump administration has recently instructed federal agencies to prioritize religious liberty in regulatory processes. This marks a significant update to the Department of Justice’s guidance on religious freedom since 2017. The new guidance demands compliance with the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and recent Supreme Court rulings that have expanded protections for religious practices.
Led by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the DOJ emphasizes that the guidance reflects nearly ten years of new Supreme Court precedent. The aim is to ensure federal agencies protect religious rights in areas like employment, federal contracting, grants, rulemaking, and enforcement actions.
The department mandates that agencies should address religious-liberty concerns earlier in the regulatory process, facilitate religious expression in the workplace where legally required, and ensure religious organizations can compete equally for federal grants and contracts.
The guidance also reaffirms churches’ constitutional rights to govern their internal affairs and highlights recent Supreme Court decisions acknowledging parents’ rights to direct their children’s religious upbringing.
Kelly Shackelford of First Liberty Institute praised President Donald Trump for his commitment to safeguarding America’s religious freedom, describing the updated guidance as a measure to respect Americans’ religious rights while executing presidential policies.
The guidance includes references to two Supreme Court cases. Kennedy v. Bremerton School District was a ruling that upheld a high school football coach’s postgame prayer as protected under the First Amendment. Groff v. DeJoy asserted that employers must generally offer religious accommodations unless significant hardship results from doing so.
The Office of Legal Policy within the DOJ will continue collaborating with federal agencies to ensure proposed regulations align with federal religious-liberty protections. The memorandum replaces earlier guidance from Trump’s first administration, integrating Supreme Court decisions that have reinforced religious exercise rights.