Washington, D.C. – At events surrounding the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Thursday, February 6, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the formation of a new federal task force. The initiative is specifically aimed at identifying and eradicating what the administration terms “anti-Christian bias” within the United States government.
Speaking to attendees, President Trump outlined the scope and purpose of the newly established body, emphasizing a commitment to protecting religious expression, particularly for Christians, within federal institutions. The announcement marks a significant policy direction, focusing government resources on investigating and addressing perceived discrimination against individuals based on their Christian faith.
Details of the Task Force and Mandate
The task force is set to be led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, a key figure within the administration. According to President Trump’s directive, the task force is charged with the immediate objective to “immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government.” This broad mandate targets various departments and agencies, with specific mention made of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as areas where such bias must be rooted out.
The President’s remarks indicated that the task force would scrutinize policies, practices, and individual actions within these and potentially other federal entities to ensure that Christians are not subjected to unfair treatment or discrimination. The formation of this task force comes amidst ongoing national debates regarding religious freedom, the separation of church and state, and the role of faith in public life.
Related Policy Statements
During his address and surrounding events, President Trump also highlighted other actions taken or supported by his administration that he framed as being aligned with the goals of the new task force. He specifically pointed to efforts to reverse diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government, initiatives that have become central to many agencies’ human resources and operational strategies in recent years.
Furthermore, the President reiterated his administration’s stance on issues related to gender identity, mentioning actions taken to restrict transgender individuals in women’s sports. These points were presented within the broader context of countering what the administration describes as “woke” ideologies that President Trump asserted were being dismantled, declaring emphatically, “Woke is gone-zo.” These combined statements framed the task force’s creation as part of a larger effort to roll back specific social and cultural initiatives perceived by the administration as detrimental to traditional values or religious expression.
Reactions and Criticism
The announcement of the task force drew swift and significant criticism from civil liberties and separation of church and state advocacy groups. Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued a strong condemnation of the initiative.
Rachel Laser, the President and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, voiced her organization’s concerns, stating their belief that the task force represents a potentially problematic use of government power. Laser was quoted as saying the group believes the task force will “misuse religious freedom to justify bigotry, discrimination, and the subversion of our civil rights laws.”
Critics argue that focusing government resources specifically on “anti-Christian bias” could potentially elevate the status of one religion over others or provide a pretext for rolling back protections for minority groups under the guise of religious freedom. The formation of the task force is expected to face legal challenges and significant political debate as its scope and actions become clearer in the coming months.
