As part of an investigation into the Trump administration’s dangerous Anti-Christian Bias Task Force, Americans United for Separation of Church and State today filed a federal Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The lawsuit explains that the department is violating federal law by refusing to fulfill AU’s public-records request for information on how it’s responding to President Donald Trump’s mandate to investigate alleged anti-Christian bias within the VA.
AU is investigating the creation and implementation of the task force, which Trump mandated in a February executive order filled with lies and disinformation about purported anti-Christian bias. In April, the VA was among the first federal agencies to announce the formation of its own version of the task force and asked employees to report allegations of “anti-Christian discrimination.”
On May 7, Americans United filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the VA, seeking records on any reports of anti-Christian or anti-religious bias dating back to Jan. 1, 2017. AU also requested records related to the formation of the VA’s Anti-Christian Bias Task Force and implementation of Trump’s executive order. The VA failed to respond to AU’s request within 30 days, as required by federal law.
“The Trump administration created the Anti-Christian Bias Task Force based on the false claim that there’s rampant Christian persecution within the federal government. We’ve called their bluff and demanded that they prove it – show us the evidence of widespread anti-Christian discrimination. So far the Trump administration is ignoring our request in violation of federal transparency law – what are they hiding?” demanded Americans United President and CEO Rachel Laser.
“The Department of Veterans Affairs serves veterans of all religions and none. Rather than protect everyone’s religious beliefs, this task force will misuse department resources and the principle of religious freedom to justify bigotry, discrimination, and the subversion of our civil rights laws. This task force is not a response to Christian persecution; it’s an attempt to privilege Christian Nationalism. Not on our watch. Americans United will not stop fighting for church-state separation and for this nation to live up to its promise of freedom without favor and equality without exception.”
The lawsuit, Americans United for Separation of Church and State v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was filed in the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C. It argues that the VA unlawfully withheld records related to the creation and implementation of its task force, which the VA was required to disclose under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552.
AU Litigation Counsel Alexandra Zaretsky is the lead attorney on the case. More information about the lawsuit is available here.
In addition to the federal lawsuit, AU attorneys today sent letters to the State Department and the VA urging each to “rescind any directives instructing employees to report on anti-Christian bias and to shut down any politically motivated investigations stemming from such reports.” The letters explain the problems with attempting to enforce Trump’s executive order, including that it’s a transparent attempt to favor “Christian employees and silence those who disagree.” Extending “preferential treatment” to one particular religion violates the Constitution and federal law.
Americans United is a religious freedom advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, AU educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
Liz Hayes
Associate Vice President of Communications
[email protected]
