Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany reports that the Department of Justice is investigating Major League Baseball regarding religious freedom issues. MLB reportedly issued warnings to players who displayed Bible verses on their hats. McEnany highlights that Title VII federal law mandates employers to accommodate religious beliefs reasonably. She questions MLB’s past allowances for slogans like ‘SOS Cuba’ and ‘BLM’ without warnings, suggesting double standards.
The Trump administration has directed federal agencies to prioritize religious liberty in regulations, law enforcement, and employee accommodations. This marks the first significant update to DOJ guidance since 2017, focusing on aligning policies with the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and Supreme Court decisions expanding religious exercise protections.
DOJ alleges ‘systematic culture’ of anti-Christian bias across federal agencies under Biden.
Led by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the DOJ states that nearly a decade of Supreme Court rulings have influenced the new guidance. The aim is to protect religious Americans in employment, federal contracting, grants, rulemaking, and enforcement. The changes include considering religious-liberty concerns earlier when forming regulations and ensuring equal opportunity for religious organizations seeking federal grants.
Kelly Shackelford, from First Liberty Institute, praised the updated guidance as ensuring respect for religious liberty. Shackelford thanked President Trump for advancing religious freedom rights, referencing two Supreme Court victories involving the institute. These cases include Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, which upheld a coach’s postgame prayer rights, and Groff v. DeJoy, requiring employers to accommodate religious practices unless causing serious hardship.
The DOJ will continue to review actions for compliance with religious-liberty protections, replacing previous guidance from Trump’s first term. A DOJ spokesperson did not comment on the practical implications of the updates. Jasmine Baehr is a writer for Fox News Digital, focusing on politics, military, legal debates, and cultural topics.