US Edition
Agriculture secretary’s religious Easter message to all employees sparks internal backlash and a formal complaint
A federal union president says the message violated the First Amendment and seeks a retraction and a ban on similar USDA emails.
- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins faces a formal complaint after sending an Easter email to nearly 100,000 USDA employees. Ethan Roberts, a federal employee union president, filed the complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, alleging the message violated the First Amendment.
- Sent on Easter Day, the email delivered an extended theological message about Jesus' resurrection, sin, and salvation. The Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote that the message "went far beyond a simple greeting," invoking explicitly Christian doctrine.
- Nearly 30 employees described the message as "inappropriate and insulting," according to the Freedom From Religion Foundation. An anonymous staffer added that the email contradicted the principle of separation of church and state by excluding coworkers of other faiths.
- Defending the action, the Department of Agriculture stated Rollins was "within her rights" to send the holiday message. Roberts' complaint demands a retraction and an end to department communications endorsing religious holidays.
- Under President Donald Trump, faith-based initiatives have become increasingly frequent across federal agencies. These actions reflect a broader series of White House initiatives creating a systematic religious presence within government operations and policy.
25 Articles
25 Articles
U.S. agriculture secretary’s religious Easter message to all employees sparks internal backlash and a formal complaint
A “Christ is Risen” Easter message sent by the secretary of agriculture has sparked backlash inside the department, angering some of its nearly 100,000 employees and prompting a formal complaint against the secretary for the religious message.
An Easter message containing the phrase “Christ is risen” sent by the Secretary of Agriculture has sparked outrage within the department, provoking indignation among some of its nearly 100,000 employees and prompting the filing of…
Following the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture has also sent Easter greetings to 100,000 U.S. administration employees embroiled in controversy over violations of the separation of church and state. The emails contained blatant messages, including Jesus as humanity's eternal hope. The administration's religious overtones have intensified under Trump's second term, and the controversy has reignited following Secretary Hegseth'…
Easter message from USDA secretary called ‘pro-Christian sermon’ in complaint
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is facing a formal complaint after sending an Easter email to all department employees that nearly 100,000 workers received. The message described Easter as a day to celebrate the foundation of our faith.A federal employee union president filed the complaint, calling the email a pro-Christian message that violated the First Amendment.From the foot of the Cross on Good Friday to the stone rolled away from the …
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