The federal government’s approach to religious liberty is once again in the spotlight, as the Justice Department’s Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, established by President Donald Trump and chaired by Attorney General Pam Bondi, releases its initial findings. The report, obtained by Fox News Digital on September 5, 2025, alleges that the Biden administration systematically discriminated against Christians, weaponizing federal agencies and policies to sideline Christian perspectives—particularly within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
HUD Secretary Scott Turner, who took the helm under the Trump administration, has been vocal in his condemnation of what he describes as pervasive religious discrimination during the Biden-Harris era. According to Turner, “Religious discrimination will not be tolerated—especially Anti-Christian bias that goes against America’s foundational values. [Trump] is bringing faith back to our country.” Turner’s remarks, shared on social media and amplified in media reports, underscore a broader sentiment among Trump-era officials who argue that faith, especially Christianity, was treated as a liability rather than a liberty under the previous administration.
The Task Force’s mandate is clear: “Any unlawful and improper conduct, policies, or practices that target Christians are identified, terminated, and rectified.” The initial assessment, as detailed by Fox News Digital, paints a picture of a federal government that, in the words of White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers, “weaponized the full weight of the federal government against Christians and trampled on their fundamental First Amendment rights.” The report is explicit: “The days of anti-Christian bias in the federal government are over. Faith is not a liability in America—it is a liberty.”
One of the most striking examples cited in the report—and echoed by Turner—involves HUD’s treatment of Christian holidays in its marketing and social media. The Task Force found that posts celebrating Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter were singled out for removal or scrutiny, while posts marking Pride Month, Ramadan, and Diwali remained untouched. Turner recounted, “HUD staff were told to take down social posts celebrating Easter weekend, while similar posts for Pride Month received no scrutiny.” This, according to Turner and the Task Force, is emblematic of a broader pattern of bias that prioritized so-called ‘woke’ ideology over religious inclusivity.
The scrutiny of Christian observances wasn’t limited to HUD. The Task Force’s report catalogues a series of incidents across multiple federal agencies. At the Department of Defense, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Department of Labor, requests for religious exemptions to COVID-19 mandates were allegedly deprioritized or denied. The Department of Education, for its part, attempted to levy record fines—$14 million against Liberty University and $37.7 million against Grand Canyon University—both large Christian institutions. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security was found to have omitted Christian perspectives from detainee directives, while making explicit accommodations for Islam, Rastafarianism, and certain Jewish sects.
The Justice Department itself, under the Biden administration, is accused of failing to prosecute violations involving anti-Christian bias, instead pursuing “novel theories of prosecution against those speaking or demonstrating based upon their Christian faith.” Notably, the report highlights that approximately two dozen individuals were arrested and convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act for praying and demonstrating outside abortion facilities—while, it claims, the same protections were not extended to places of worship or crisis pregnancy centers.
The FBI also comes under fire in the report for a memo that labeled “radical-traditionalist” Catholics as domestic terrorism threats, a move widely criticized by religious liberty advocates. At the Treasury Department, the Task Force points to the “debanking” of pro-Christian groups, while the State Department is said to have offered “limited humanitarian relief to Christians relative to other populations” and to have shown muted responses to attacks on Christians. Preferential employment practices allegedly favored non-Christian religions, and Christian employees were reportedly less likely to receive leave for religious observances.
Adding to these concerns, the Task Force found that the Department of Labor dismantled its office of faith-based initiatives, replacing it with a diversity, equity, and inclusion office—a move seen by some as sidelining religious voices in favor of broader, secular diversity goals.
Turner also drew attention to what he characterized as the misuse of HUD’s resources for political and ideological ends, citing the example of a Biden-era agreement with the city of Chicago. The agreement, signed by then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot and upheld by current Mayor Brandon Johnson, called for zoning reforms in the name of “equity” and “environmental justice.” Turner argued that such initiatives diverted taxpayer money away from the people and toward what he called “racist, anti-Judeo-Christian initiatives.” As Turner put it, “HUD’s resources are for the PEOPLE, not to empower politicians and activists.”
In response to the findings and in an effort to reset the government’s relationship with faith communities, President Trump signed an executive order in February 2025 establishing a White House Faith Office. The office is designed to empower faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship “to better serve families and communities,” and to ensure that policy changes “better align with American values.” The office operates under the Domestic Policy Council and consults with faith leaders on policy matters.
To further highlight the renewed focus on faith, Turner promoted a HUD event titled “Foundation of Faith: Prayer, Action, and Hope in Times of Disaster,” part of the ongoing America 250 celebrations. Scheduled for Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the National Mall, the event aims to honor faith leaders who have served their communities in times of need. “Join HUD as we say thank you to faith leaders from across the country who stepped up in America’s time of need to serve their community,” Turner wrote, inviting the public to participate in a celebration of faith’s role in American resilience.
The Task Force is not finished with its work. According to officials, the inquiry into anti-Christian bias during the Biden administration is ongoing, with a final report expected by February 2026. The initial findings, however, have already sparked renewed debate about the role of faith in public life and the boundaries of religious liberty in a pluralistic society.
While critics of the Task Force’s work argue that the report reflects a partisan agenda and overstates the extent of bias, supporters contend that the evidence is clear and that robust protections for religious liberty are essential to the nation’s identity. As the investigation continues and the White House Faith Office begins its work, the debate over faith, policy, and equality in America is sure to remain at the forefront of national conversation.
For now, the message from Trump-era officials is unambiguous: the federal government, they say, will never again be permitted to turn its power against people of faith.
