In a striking shift, the Trump administration has declared that U.S. federal employees are now free to promote and discuss their religious beliefs within the workplace — so long as it doesn’t cross the line into harassment.
A new directive from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers a broad green light: employees can actively try to “persuade others” of their faith, form prayer groups (outside working hours), and even display religious symbols in their offices. Supervisors, too, are allowed to invite subordinates to join their faith — provided the invitation doesn’t veer into coercion.
The memo, signed by OPM Director Scott Kupor, roots this policy in constitutional protections and cites the Civil Rights Act’s Title VII, which bars discrimination based on religion while mandating reasonable accommodation for religious expression. But it also echoes President Trump’s broader mission: undo what he has called the “anti-Christian weaponization of government.”
The February executive order referenced in the document instructs federal agencies to identify and dismantle rules or practices deemed hostile to Christian beliefs. It’s part of Trump’s ongoing outreach to conservative faith communities, a group central to his political base and messaging.
Kupor’s memo makes clear that agencies can no longer penalize employees for opting out of religious discussions. Nor can they interfere with faith-based conversations unless they create a disruptive or hostile environment — a legal threshold rooted in previous court rulings and EEOC guidance.
Notably, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has long warned that persistent religious proselytizing could constitute harassment. But the OPM memo draws a sharp line between unwanted pressure and what it calls “spirited but consensual dialogue.”
Still, the memo is advisory, not binding law. Courts may ultimately interpret its reach differently — assuming a legal challenge even gets off the ground. Most internal agency memos are notoriously difficult to contest in court.
The policy also follows a July announcement easing remote work restrictions for prayer observance, further signaling a government push to accommodate faith in daily operations.
In short: if you’re a federal worker and feel moved to talk about God on your lunch break — or invite a colleague to Bible study after hours — the administration has your back. Just keep it respectful, and off the clock.
