Officials launch task force to root out ‘anti-Christian bias' in VA
The move, which follows a government-wide mandate for investigations into discriminatory practices against Christian beliefs, drew immediate condemnation from Democratic lawmakers for showing favoritism towards a single religion.
'While religious discrimination must be forbidden and fought, this internal VA memo lacks any factual basis or rationale,' said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. 'It raises the specter of dividing the veteran community and favoring some religions over others.'
In a department-wide memo distributed Monday, VA Secretary Doug Collins said that a new department task force will 'review all instances of anti-Christian bias' throughout VA operations. That includes 'adverse responses to requests for religious exemption' and 'any observations of mistreatment for not participating in events or activities inconsistent with Christian views.'
LGBTQ Pride flags banned at VA facilities under new policy
In the past, some employees have claimed discrimination for being required to provide treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals or birth control medication to patients, claiming religious objections. Advocates have countered that veterans should not have their medical options curtailed because of individuals' personal beliefs.
Collins memo also asks employees to report 'any mistreatment or reprimand issued in response to displays of Christian imagery or symbols.'
In February, Collins ordered that displays of flags not in keeping with VA messaging — including LGBTQ+ Pride flags and other advocacy banners — be removed from department workspaces and common areas. It is not clear if flags with Christian imagery will now be exempted from that policy.
In addition to his VA leadership role, Collins serves as an Air Force Reserve Chaplain and is a practicing Southern Baptist.
President Donald Trump in February ordered VA and 15 other agencies to establish the anti-Christian-bias task forces to 'end the anti-Christian weaponization of government.' He claimed that past administrations' support for abortion rights and diversity efforts amounted to an attack on Christian beliefs.
Democratic lawmakers have disputed that. Blumenthal said that the new task force undermines efforts to ensure all veterans receive care and respect.
'The First Amendment ensures that all religions and faiths are treated equally, with full freedom of worship,' he said.
Officials from the advocacy group Americans United for the Separation of Church and State have called Trump's anti-Christian task force 'a Christian nationalist crusade' and accused the administration of using religious freedom misinformation 'to justify bigotry and discrimination.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
27 minutes ago
- Axios
July 4th cookout costs sizzle with tariff pressures
Tariffs and trade tensions are pushing up the cost of summer cookouts, including Independence Day barbecues, Democratic lawmakers warn. Why it matters: Cookout costs increased 12.7% since President Trump announced the "Liberation Day" tariffs, analysis by the Joint Economic Committee's minority arm found. By the numbers: Ground beef and ice cream hit their highest prices on record since the 1980s, the analysis found citing Consumer Price Index data. Miller Lite and Coors Light six-packs are up more than 13% at Walmart since Liberation Day and through June 26, per the report. Imported beer prices also rose with Peroni increasing 10.5% and Modelo Especial 9.5%. Cookout essentials like aluminum foil, grill tools, and sunscreen saw hikes between 6% and 18%. Yes, but: Different analysis yield different results, while also looking at varying items. The Rabobank Barbecue Index found the 10-person barbecue cost 4.21% more than last year. The America Farm Bureau's annual survey found cookout staples for a 10-person meal declined less than 1% from last year's record high but are 19% higher than five years ago. Wells Fargo Fourth of July report estimates a 2.2% increase over last year for the holiday cookout. The intrigue: 32% of Americans are swapping barbecue for pizza this Fourth of July, according to Empower's survey of 2,200 people. 68% of those surveyed said barbecues are noticeably more expensive to host this year with 55% noting tariffs are making holiday celebrations more expensive.
Axios
27 minutes ago
- Axios
Texas Democrats circle Senate race
As Texas Republicans prepare for a U.S. Senate primary brawl, Democrats see an opportunity to end a three-decade losing streak. Why it matters: Democrats haven't won a statewide office since 1994, but Republicans' vulnerability — exposed by state Attorney General Ken Paxton's primary challenge against Sen. John Cornyn — has energized the party to take a shot at the seat. State of play: Former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who has been making stops across the state to talk to voters over the last two months, hasn't ruled out the possibility of a run. "With so many of our neighbors hurting right now, I'll continue standing up for the people of Texas — whether that's holding these town hall meetings, organizing and registering voters, or running to serve and deliver for every person in this state," O'Rourke tells Axios in an email. U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, who ran unsuccessfully against Sen. Ted Cruz last year, threw his hat in the ring Tuesday, joining retired NASA astronaut Terry Virts on the Democratic ticket. Other potential contenders include U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio and state Rep. James Talarico of Austin. By the numbers: O'Rourke ran for Senate in 2018, losing to Cruz by less than 3 percentage points. Cruz defeated Allred last year by more than 8 points. Zoom in: Democrats are betting that midterms could offer more favorable conditions, especially as Republican infighting and voter fatigue set in. A new poll from the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas found that Texans' approval of President Trump's job performance has fallen into net-negative territory for the first time in his second term, with 44% approving and 51% disapproving. The poll, conducted in early June, was of 1,200 registered voters and has a margin of error of +/- 2.83%. What they're saying: University of Houston political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus tells Axios the race is shaping up to be Democrats' most promising shot in years — but only if they can close the enthusiasm gap and avoid fracturing during the primary. "This fast-forwards everyone's decisions," Rottinghaus says, following Allred's early entry. "There's an enthusiasm gap for Democrats that has to be very quickly narrowed — whether it's a candidate we've seen before or it's a candidate we haven't seen before. Democrats have to find somebody who can rally the base." The bottom line: Rottinghaus says each potential candidate brings their own strengths and weaknesses, but they'll have to unify the party.
Hamilton Spectator
31 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
North Carolina governor vetoes anti-DEI and transgender rights bills, calling them ‘mean-spirited'
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein vetoed on Thursday three anti-DEI bills and another measure that in part would target transgender rights. His actions set up more showdowns with Republican lawmakers who pitch the legislation as doing away with structured racial bias in government and public education, protecting women and empowering parents. Stein criticized the Republican-controlled legislature for focusing on these measures while they've yet to enact a budget for the fiscal year that started this week. Instead, Stein said in a news release, it 'wants to distract us by stoking culture wars that further divide us. These mean-spirited bills would marginalize vulnerable people and also undermine the quality of public services and public education.' The measures cutting or eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in state and local governments, K-12 public schools and the university system have been a major priority for GOP lawmakers. They argue the programs targeted have overemphasized identity to the detriment of merit and societal unity. The other vetoed bill initially ran as a bipartisan measure curbing sexual exploitation of women and minors by implementing age verification and consent requirements for people who appear on pornography websites. But the final measure was loaded up with several contentious provisions. One would prevent state-funded gender transition procedures or gender-affirming hormone therapy for prisoners. It also affirms the recognition of two sexes and requires the state to officially attach a transgender person's new birth certificate to their old one if they change their sex assigned at birth. The bills align with President Donald Trump's agenda to dismantle DEI practices and press against transgender rights. The legislation is now back at the General Assembly, which could return from a recess later this month to attempt veto overrides and advance other legislation. Republicans are one House seat short of a veto-proof majority. No Democrats voted for the final three anti-DEI measures. However, one House Democrat did vote for the other vetoed bill. By vetoing that measure, House Speaker Destin Hall said in a release, Stein 'has sided with radical activists over the overwhelming majority of North Carolinians who believe in parental rights, biological reality, and protecting women and children.' The bill also would order local school districts to adopt policies so parents can ask that their child be excused from activities or readings that would 'impose a substantial burden on the student's religious beliefs.' Stein said in a veto message that he strongly supported the sexual exploitation provisions in the bill, but the final measure went too far. 'My faith teaches me that we are all children of God, no matter our differences, and that it is wrong to target vulnerable people, as this bill does,' he added. As for the anti-DEI measures, one bill would ban training, staff positions and hiring decisions that incorporate DEI in state agencies. The legislation also would outlaw those agencies or local governments from using state funds for DEI programs. Workers who violate the law could face civil penalties and litigation. The two other bills would bar 'divisive concepts' and 'discriminatory practices' across public education statewide. A Stein veto message said the bill addressing state and local governments in part 'is riddled with vague definitions yet imposes extreme penalties for unknowable violations.' As for the education measures, Stein wrote, 'we should not whitewash history' and 'should ensure our students learn from diverse perspectives and form their own opinions.' Stein has now vetoed 11 measures since taking office in January — all of them in the past two weeks. Of the eight bills he signed Friday, one will block certain abuse and neglect charges for parents or caregivers raising transgender children 'consistent with the juvenile's biological sex.' The bill also says that adoption agencies can't be permitted to deny someone from adopting a child because of their unwillingness to allow the child to transition. Bill sponsors said the restrictions were needed to allow parents and guardians to raise children in line with their family values. But opponents said the measure would harm transgender children and intrude in family matters already governed by other laws. Nine House Democrats voted for the final bill. Stein's office didn't immediately respond Friday to a request for comment.
