As part of an investigation into monthly, Christian prayer services being organized by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Americans United for Separation of Church and State sued the DOL under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
In December 2025—inspired by War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s prayer services—Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer began organizing a monthly prayer service for DOL employees. At the first of these services, several people, including other leaders in the Labor Department, offered Christian prayers. The lone non-Christian known to speak was an Orthodox rabbi who voiced anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion sentiments.
On December 2025, Americans United filed a FOIA request seeking public records related to the planning and hosting of the DOL’s prayer services. In particular, we sought information about the public resources spent on organizing and hosting the prayer services, communications with DOL employees about the services, complaints from DOL employees about the services, and policies, guidance, procedures, and practices related to the services. When the DOL failed to respond and produce the relevant documents within the statutory deadline, Americans United filed a lawsuit under the FOIA to compel production of these important records. These documents will help AU determine whether the DOL is upholding its obligation to remain neutral about religious matters and respect the religious freedom of federal workers.
