New Trump Rule Would Protect Religious Freedoms of Federal Contractors

The Trump administration’s Labor Department proposed a new rule Wednesday it says will broaden the religious freedom of federal contractors, but that critics claim will permit discrimination against LGBT employees.

At issue are 1960s-era regulations (Executive Order 11246) that government organizations and companies that contract with the federal government – and, specifically, those that receive a religious exemption.

The proposed Trump rule clarifies that the religious exemption within Executive Order 11246 covers not just churches but also “employers that are organized for a religious purpose, hold themselves out to the public as carrying out a religious purpose, and engage in exercise of religion consistent with, and in furtherance of, a religious purpose.”

President Obama had amended Executive Order 11246 to ban the federal government from contracting with any company or organization that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. 

The proposed rule would impact faith-based organizations – such as a Christian foster care service or a homeless shelter – that only hire employees who affirm Scripture, including what the Bible teaches on sexuality. Under the Obama rule, they would be prohibited from contracting with the federal government. Under the new Trump rule, they would be allowed to do so. 

The proposed rule…