Published December 10, 2021
On December 9, 2021, EPPC scholars Roger Severino and Rachel N. Morrison submitted a public comment opposing a proposal by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to rescind various protections for faith-based contractors that allow them to partner with the federal government and serve the American people without having to abandon tenets of their faith or their religious identity.
Despite broad protections for faith-based contractors in law, the proposal would limit which contractors can qualify for religious exemption and would prohibit faith-based contractors from making employment decisions based on sincere religious beliefs and tenets.
The comment points out that OFCCP’s Proposal contradicts religious freedom protections under the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Title VII, and existing executive orders applicable to federal contractors. The comment urges OFCCP to fully recognize religious protections for faith-based contractors and retain the language clarifying those protections.
Read EPPC’s press release with more details on this matter here.
Roger Severino is a former senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.
