The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security (DHS) proposed rules Thursday that would implement President Donald Trump’s executive order that protects the religious freedom of faith-based organizations.
The proposed rules, announced on Religious Freedom Day, would ensure religious and secular groups are treated equally and rescind Obama-era rules currently in force that place regulatory burdens on faith-based organizations.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a press statement:
President Trump’s administration is taking historic action to protect religious social service providers from discrimination in federal regulations. Americans of faith play an essential role in providing healthcare and human services to so many vulnerable people and communities, and President Trump is dedicated to removing every unfair barrier that stands in the way of this important work. Americans from every walk of life deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Our Constitution and civil rights laws ensure equal treatment and today’s action makes clear that the federal government cannot discriminate against people and institutions based on how they live out the dictates of their faith. ….