Federal Policy

“We call on Ambassador Hussain to prioritize ending blasphemy laws, stopping the persecution of religious dissenters, and ensuring that religious freedom is never used to justify discrimination or to elevate ideas and institutions over the rights of individuals.”

he Trump-era rule particularly harmed protected minority groups. Under it, any federal contractor—even a construction company, janitorial service, or healthcare provider—could claim a religious mission and refuse to hire any group they disapproved of as long as they cited a religious reason.

“The things most valued by our humanist movement—freedom of thought, speech, and choice; human rights including of women, LGBTI+ people, and children; knowledge, rationality; human empathy—are the things most hated by the Taliban and those who have allied or will ally with them.”

“While I am hopeful these nominees share our commitment to religious pluralism and equality, the Biden Administration has once again missed an opportunity to appoint the first nonreligious person to serve on USCIRF.”

American Atheists and other secular organizations met for more than an hour with leadership from the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

“The Judiciary Act of 2021 is an important first step toward needed reform of the federal judiciary. It will help ensure that ideological capture of the Court does not overturn decades of precedent and will restore balance to the Supreme Court.”

“I remain skeptical that it will be possible to fully protect the right of all Americans to be free from discrimination and coercive religious practices when accessing basic services given the current legal landscape.”

Bill Barr’s tenure has been marked by constant attacks on religious equality, the rights of minorities, and open hostility to secular Americans.

American Atheists denounced the Trump Administration’s announcement that it would strip nondiscrimination and religious freedom protections for Americans receiving taxpayer-funded services from religious providers.