First Liberty Institute

The Trump administration directed federal agencies to prioritize religious liberty in regulations and enforcement, citing the First Amendment, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and recent Supreme Court rulings. The guidance emphasizes compliance with legal protections for religious exercise in employment, contracts, and grants, referencing cases like Kennedy v. Bremerton School District and Groff v. DeJoy.

The Trump administration updated Department of Justice guidance to prioritize religious liberty in federal regulations and policies, citing Supreme Court rulings and statutory protections like the First Amendment and Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The changes emphasize accommodating religious expression in workplaces, ensuring equal access for religious organizations in federal contracts, and aligning with recent court decisions such as Kennedy v. Bremerton School District and Groff v. DeJoy.

A federal appeals court ruled that religious schools in Maine cannot be exempt from the state’s nondiscrimination laws, which prohibit discrimination based on faith, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The decision rejected appeals by Bangor Christian Schools and St. Dominic Academy, which argued the law violated their First Amendment rights. The court remanded part of the case regarding religious expression back to a lower court.

A federal judge ordered Washington's Everett Public Schools to loosen restrictions on LifeWise Academy, an off-campus religious group for public school students, citing First Amendment violations. The ruling allows LifeWise to participate in community fairs, display flyers, and use semester-long permission slips for student attendance, among other changes. The case highlights tensions over religious expression in public schools and references a 1952 Supreme Court precedent upholding off-campus religious instruction.