In March, as part of an investigation into the monthly, predominantly Christian prayer services organized by the U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL) and Defense (DOD), Americans United filed two federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits against the agencies. This brings AU’s total number to six pending lawsuits against the Trump administration for violating federal transparency laws, in part by refusing to fulfill AU’s public records requests for information into how the federal government is advancing Christian Nationalism.
In December 2025, AU filed FOIA requests with both the DOD (also known as the Department of War) and DOL seeking public records related to the planning and hosting of the departments’ prayer services. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has organized a monthly prayer service at the Pentagon since May 2025. Inspired by Hegseth, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer began organizing monthly prayer services in December 2025. The speakers at all of the services have been overwhelmingly Christian.
The requested documents will help AU determine whether the departments are upholding their obligation to remain neutral about religious matters and are respecting the religious freedom of federal workers. Neither department has provided a substantive response within the time frame required by the FOIA.
“The federal government’s role is to serve the public, not to proselytize,” said AU President and CEO Rachel Laser. “Secretaries Hegseth and Chavez-DeRemer are abusing the power of their government positions and taxpayer-funded resources to impose their preferred religion on federal workers. Even if these prayer services are presented as voluntary, there is pressure on federal employees to attend in order to appease their bosses — especially since these services occur amidst the Trump administration’s campaign to punish anyone who doesn’t comply with its Christian Nationalist agenda.
“We encourage any federal workers who believe a federal agency has violated their religious freedom to contact Americans United at au.org,” Laser added. “Americans United will not stop fighting for church-state separation and for this nation to live up to its promise of religious freedom for all.”