Published May 28, 2024
On Tuesday, May 28, 2024, EPPC scholars Rachel N. Morrison and Eric Kniffin met with government officials in the Executive Office of the President (EOP) to oppose two State Department rules on nondiscrimination in foreign assistance, which are expected to be finalized soon.
As the scholars explained, “We support the State Department’s goal of ensuring ‘access for all eligible beneficiaries of the target population’ without discrimination in order ‘to achiev[e] effective, comprehensive, and sustainable foreign assistance results.’ However, these rules would have the opposite effect.”
During the meeting, the scholars raised several points, including that State failed to demonstrate a need for its rules; the rules are unclear and will create uncertainty and confusion; the rules do not adequately protect religious liberty; and the rules overstate their benefits and fail to count their costs. The scholars concluded with several suggestions and recommendations to improve the rules.
A written version of their comments, submitted to EOP’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, is available here (PDF).
Rachel N. Morrison is a Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where she directs EPPC’s HHS Accountability Project. An attorney, her legal and policy work focuses on religious liberty, health care rights of conscience, the right to life, nondiscrimination, and civil rights.
