USDA Enforces New Guidance on Religious Expression in the Workplace

(Washington, D.C., November 20, 2025) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has unveiled new guidance reinforcing the USDA’s commitment to safeguarding faith, religious expression, and accommodation rights within the federal workplace.

“From the very beginning, America has recognized the freedom of religion as the bedrock principle of our Republic. It is no accident that the First Amendment protects the free exercise of faith alongside the freedoms of speech and assembly. At this pivotal moment in our nation’s history, we must preserve religious liberty, not only as a constitutional guarantee but also as a safeguard for every other freedom we hold dear,” remarked Secretary Rollins. “By protecting the right of every American to live out their faith and express religiously inspired ideas in public and in the workplace without fear, we are defending the very foundation of American liberty for this generation and the next. I thank President Trump for his bold leadership in restoring America’s constitutional heritage of religious liberty across the public sphere and the federal government.”

This memorandum aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order 14291 – Establishment of the Religious Liberty Commission, which empowers federal agencies to rigorously uphold protections for religious expression. The USDA’s updated guidance ensures that employees can practice their faith without fear of retaliation while maintaining a respectful and productive workplace throughout all mission areas.

These developments are consistent with recent Supreme Court decisions that elucidate the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious liberty, as reinforced by President Trump’s directive to enforce the original constitutional meaning of religious freedom.

Key Measures Under Secretary Rollins’ Leadership

• Rescinded the Biden Administration’s policy aiming to redefine federal discrimination by reason of “sex” to include “gender identity,” which negatively affected children from religious schools under USDA’s National School Lunch Program.
• Reaffirmed USDA’s commitment to uphold the American People’s right to religious liberty and religious expression, clarifying expectations for USDA employees to respect constitutional protections.
• Initiated a comprehensive review to realign USDA guidance with the historic understanding of religious liberty as outlined in the Constitution, allowing Americans to live their faith openly.
• Provided guidance to USDA employees and supervisors on protections for religious expression in the workplace, following similar initiatives by the Office of Personnel Management.
• Hosted a “Faith and Fellowship” night at the Great American Farmer’s market on the National Mall, celebrating the vital connection between faith and American agriculture.

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