US Evangelist Graham Welcomes Trump’s Faith Move In Federal Agencies
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – American evangelist Franklin Graham has welcomed a decision by U.S. President Donald J. Trump to allow federal employees, including Christians, to openly express their faith while at work, in a move that changes decades of policies.
“For all the never-Trumper, so-called evangelicals, President Donald J. Trump has just scored another victory for religious freedom for all people of faith,” Graham stated Thursday.
“Last week a memo notified federal employees that they could display their Bibles on their desks, speak about their beliefs, invite colleagues to church, or pray in groups while off duty without fear of reprisal. Thank you, President Trump!” added Graham, who has close ties with the White House.
Federal agencies are now required to protect religious expression in the workplace under a new government-wide memo. It is seen by Trump supporters as one of the most sweeping moves in decades to defend faith and freedoms in the civil service.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent guidance to federal agencies across the Trump administration, detailing the new requirements, which ensure federal workers can display Bibles, crucifixes, or mezuzahs on their desks.
They are also allowed to pray in groups while off duty; invite colleagues to church; and speak about their religious beliefs, even to the public, without fear of reprisal.
‘PROTECTING RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION’
The memo, titled “Protecting Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace,” was sent to federal employees by the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM), an independent government agency managing the U.S. federal civil service.
OPM Director Scott Kupor said in published remarks that, “This guidance ensures the federal workplace is not just compliant with the law but welcoming to Americans of all faiths.”
Kupor added: “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are restoring constitutional freedoms and making government a place where people of faith are respected, not sidelined.”
In the memo, Kupor wrote that the federal workforce “should be a welcoming place for Federal employees who practice a religious faith.”
“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 explained. “The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution robustly protects expressions of religious faith by all Americans — including Federal employees.”
Kupor noted that freedom of religious expression is also protected by federal statutes, which “prohibit the federal government from discriminating in employment based on religion or religious expression.”
U.S. CONSTITUTION
“This memorandum provides guidance to agencies on robustly protecting and enforcing each Federal employee’s right to engage in religious expression in the Federal workplace consistent with the U.S. Constitution, Title VII, and other applicable sources of law,” Kupor wrote in the memo.
“Agencies should allow personal religious expression by Federal employees to the greatest extent possible unless such expression would impose an undue hardship on business operations,” he stressed.
“And they should review and (if necessary) revise their internal policies to ensure that they appropriately protect religious expression,” Kupor added.
Earlier, Trump already established the White House Faith Office led by Paula White-Cain and Jennifer Korn.
Paula White-Cain, a longtime pastor and advisor to President Trump, was appointed as a Special Government Employee and Senior Advisor.
Jennifer Korn, who also worked in the first Trump administration, is also part of the leadership team. The office says it aims to empower faith-based groups, address religious bias, and promote religious freedom.
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