Overview

• The memo, circulated on July 28 by OPM Director Scott Kupor, requires all federal agencies to protect employees’ religious expression both on and off duty.
• Agencies must revise internal policies in line with First Amendment, Title VII and prior executive orders, allowing religious expression unless it creates undue hardship and applying only content-neutral time, place and manner restrictions.
• Federal workers can display faith-based items such as Bibles, crucifixes, mezuzahs, rosary beads and tefillin at their workstations.
• Employees may hold group prayer and engage in respectful discussions or proselytizing about their faith during breaks but must stop if requested by a colleague.
• The guidance extends to public-facing roles—enabling park rangers to pray with tour groups and VA doctors to pray over patients—and includes telework and schedule accommodations for observances.