United States President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a task force aimed at eradicating what he called an “anti-Christian bias” within the federal government.Trump made the announcement on Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, an annual event that brings together religious groups with government leaders.
During his speech, Trump said that he would sign an executive order later in the day and appoint US Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the effort.
He also pointed to several government agencies that may be scrutinised under the effort, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
“The mission of this task force will be to immediately hold all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ, which was absolutely terrible, the IRS, the FBI and other agencies,” Trump said.
Bondi, he added, would also work to “fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide”. Advertisement
While Trump did not give examples of what constitutes “anti-Christian bias”, the planned executive action could pose constitutional questions about the separation of church and state.
Under the First Amendment of the US Constitution, the government protects freedom of religion.
Legal experts have often pointed to the “establishment clause” of that amendment — which says Congress “shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” — as prohibiting the government from imposing or promotin …