State instructs employees to inform on each other for 'anti-Christian bias'
An official noted, “It’s very ‘Handmaid’s Tale’-esque,” highlighting the similarities to the dystopian themes present in the renowned narrative.
TroibNews 
The Trump administration has directed State Department employees to report any instances of coworkers exhibiting “anti-Christian bias” as part of its initiative to enforce a new executive order that aims to support federal employees of the Christian faith.
According to an internal cable obtained by PMG, the department will collaborate with a task force across the administration to gather information about “anti-religious bias during the last presidential administration” and will accept examples of anti-Christian bias through anonymous employee reporting mechanisms.
This cable, sent to embassies globally under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s signature, was also disseminated through a department-wide notice.
The document indicates that the task force, created under the executive order, is set to convene around April 22 to review its initial findings.
The cable encourages State Department employees to report their colleagues via a tip form that allows for anonymity. “Reports should be as detailed as possible, including names, dates, locations (e. g. post or domestic office where the incident occurred),” it instructs.
The cable has prompted dismay among some State Department officials, who express concern that, while the initiative may have good intentions, it rests on the mistaken assumption that there exists a significant anti-Christian bias within the department. They warn that it could cultivate a culture of fear as employees are encouraged to monitor and report on each other.
“It’s very 'Handmaid's Tale'-esque,” remarked one official, who preferred to remain anonymous due to restrictions on discussing internal matters.
Instructions from the department state that while the task force will focus on collecting examples of anti-Christian bias to fulfill the executive order's requirements, it will also gather instances of anti-religious bias in general for internal use.
“Although the E. O. focuses on anti-Christian bias, targeting anyone for their religious beliefs is discriminatory and is contrary to the Constitution” and various federal laws, the notice asserts.
A spokesperson for the State Department has not yet provided a comment in response to inquiries.
The executive order issued by Trump in February mandates that all federal agencies eliminate “anti-Christian bias” from government practices.
At the time, the Interfaith Alliance, a left-leaning NGO dedicated to religious freedom, criticized the executive order, arguing that “this effort may appear to address certain forms of stigma against Christians, particularly against Catholics. In reality, it will weaponize a narrow understanding of religious freedom to legitimize discrimination against marginalized groups like the LGBTQ community."
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
According to an internal cable obtained by PMG, the department will collaborate with a task force across the administration to gather information about “anti-religious bias during the last presidential administration” and will accept examples of anti-Christian bias through anonymous employee reporting mechanisms.
This cable, sent to embassies globally under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s signature, was also disseminated through a department-wide notice.
The document indicates that the task force, created under the executive order, is set to convene around April 22 to review its initial findings.
The cable encourages State Department employees to report their colleagues via a tip form that allows for anonymity. “Reports should be as detailed as possible, including names, dates, locations (e. g. post or domestic office where the incident occurred),” it instructs.
The cable has prompted dismay among some State Department officials, who express concern that, while the initiative may have good intentions, it rests on the mistaken assumption that there exists a significant anti-Christian bias within the department. They warn that it could cultivate a culture of fear as employees are encouraged to monitor and report on each other.
“It’s very 'Handmaid's Tale'-esque,” remarked one official, who preferred to remain anonymous due to restrictions on discussing internal matters.
Instructions from the department state that while the task force will focus on collecting examples of anti-Christian bias to fulfill the executive order's requirements, it will also gather instances of anti-religious bias in general for internal use.
“Although the E. O. focuses on anti-Christian bias, targeting anyone for their religious beliefs is discriminatory and is contrary to the Constitution” and various federal laws, the notice asserts.
A spokesperson for the State Department has not yet provided a comment in response to inquiries.
The executive order issued by Trump in February mandates that all federal agencies eliminate “anti-Christian bias” from government practices.
At the time, the Interfaith Alliance, a left-leaning NGO dedicated to religious freedom, criticized the executive order, arguing that “this effort may appear to address certain forms of stigma against Christians, particularly against Catholics. In reality, it will weaponize a narrow understanding of religious freedom to legitimize discrimination against marginalized groups like the LGBTQ community."
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
