Todd Blanche Issues Updated Federal Religious Liberty Guidance

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and the United States Department of Justice issued a 26-page memorandum on July 23, 2026, to strengthen religious liberty protections across all federal executive branch agencies and departments. The updated guidance aligns federal actions with recent Supreme Court of the United States rulings regarding the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, expanding upon guidelines established in 2017.

The memorandum emphasizes the autonomy of religious organizations in internal governance and employment, as well as the right of parents to direct their children's religious upbringing. A significant portion of the guidance focuses on workplace accommodations under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Blanche specified that employers must adjust work schedules for Sabbath and holiday observance unless they can establish that such accommodations create an undue hardship, meaning costs must be substantial within the overall context of the business.

This directive requires federal agencies to ensure that all programs, contracting, and enforcement actions comply with these protections. The move is part of a broader initiative by the administration of Donald Trump to eliminate anti-Christian bias, following the establishment of a dedicated task force and recommendations from the Department of Justice's Religious Liberty Commission.