Federal authorities are taking legal action against the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Secretary, Brooke Rollins. They claim that during holiday seasons like Christmas and Easter, Trump-era officials sent emails with religious content, seemingly promoting Christianity.
The lawsuit, initiated by the National Federation of Federal Employees along with seven USDA employees, accuses Rollins of increasingly sending such religious messages since taking office in February 2025. This included an email addressed to all employees which featured Christian phrases, particularly during Easter.
In that Easter email, Rollins stated, “Happy Easter – He is indeed risen! Today we celebrate the greatest story ever told, the foundation of our faith, and the abiding hope of all humanity.” The email also contained an image depicting an empty tomb with “Christ is Risen” inscribed.
Furthermore, the complaint details an existing pattern, noting that Rollins sent out a July 4 message which included a line about God’s protection over the country. There was also a video before Christmas where he referred to Jesus as “our Savior.”
The plaintiffs, a mix of secular and religious employees, argue that these communications can feel coercive, creating an environment where they feel excluded from the workplace.
The lawsuit emphasizes their collective action to address what they perceive as a violation of their constitutional rights, attempting to safeguard them from further religious pressure at work, despite concerns about possible repercussions for speaking out.
They charge that these emails represent a persistent practice violating the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, and they seek to have the court declare such proselytizing messages unlawful. They want to prevent Rollins and USDA officials from sending similar communications in the future.
This complaint was lodged on May 13 in the Northern District of California. Representation includes Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and Democracy Forward, among others.
A spokesperson from the USDA acknowledged the lawsuit without commenting further but stated that they are keeping the plaintiffs in their thoughts during this matter. Secretary Rollins also addressed the situation, sharing a message that seems to reiterate his faith.
