Attorney General Pamela Bondi hosted the inaugural meeting of the federal government’s new Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias on April 22 at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C. The task force, established by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February, aims to identify and eliminate what the administration describes as “unlawful anti-Christian policies, practices, or conduct” across federal agencies.
Christians in the United States do not face widespread, systemic anti-Christian policies from the federal government, according to a broad consensus among moderate Christian leaders and civil rights organizations. Bondi and other officials cited several incidents under the previous administration as evidence of anti-Christian bias, including the prosecution of pro-life activists for demonstrations outside abortion clinics and the recognition of Transgender Day of Visibility on Easter Sunday in 2024.
The launch of the task force has drawn sharp criticism from a range of religious leaders and civil rights advocates. Some critics argue that the Trump administration’s anti-Christian bias task force is primarily a vehicle to promote an ultra-conservative agenda. Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, contends that the task force is part of the Christian Nationalist crusade to remake our country.
Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and leader of Christians Against Christian Nationalism, has expressed concern that the task force could be used to enforce a narrow theological conformity, ultimately threatening religious freedom for everyone, including Christians themselves.
According to Pew Research, 82% of Americans believe Muslims face at least some discrimination in the U.S., with 56% saying Muslims are discriminated against “a lot.” Muslim Americans frequently report being treated with suspicion, singled out by airport security, or called offensive names. About 64% of Americans say Jews face at least some discrimination, and anti-Semitic incidents have been on the rise in recent years. Catholics, Mormons, Sikhs, Hindus, and nonreligious individuals have also experienced various forms of bias and exclusion, though typically at lower rates than Muslims and Jews.
Many civil rights advocates and lawmakers argue that if the government is to address religious discrimination, it should do so in a way that is inclusive of all faiths and nonreligious people, not just Christians. They warn that a task force focused solely on Christians disregards the real and pressing challenges faced by religious minorities and risks undermining the principle of religious neutrality enshrined in the First Amendment.
The executive order directs the task force to conduct a comprehensive review of federal departments and agencies, including the Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, and others, to root out policies or actions deemed discriminatory toward Christians. The order also calls for recommendations on further presidential or legislative action to address such bias.
