Americans United for Separation of Church and State has filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Labor demanding public records related to monthly prayer meetings hosted by both agencies.
The Freedom of Information Act lawsuits filed March 23 are part of American United’s ongoing investigation into how the departments are implementing President Donald Trump’s “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias” executive order.
The actions bring the number of ongoing AU lawsuits against the administration to five, each of them for violating its FOIA requests about the federal government’s alleged advancement of Christian nationalism.
Doug Wilson preaches at the Pentagon (DOD photo)
The organization filed separate lawsuits against the departments in December 2025 demanding information related to how the prayer services were being planned and hosted. Of special interest, AU explained, was documentation about communication with employees, contractors and other agencies about the services, as well as the cost of hosting events and the amount of time employees were dedicating to the mostly evangelical Christian prayer gatherings.
AU said its goal is to determine if the federal agencies are upholding their constitutional obligations to remain neutral on religious matters and to recognize the religious freedom of federal employees. Neither agency has responded to the substantive FOIA inquiries.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State v. U.S. Department of Defense and Americans United for Separation of Church and State v. U.S. Department of Labor, were filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, each arguing the departments have illegally withheld records they are required under FOIA to disclose.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addresses senior military officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, on September 30, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW HARNIK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The prayer rallies began when U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth launched the “Secretary’s Christian Prayer and Worship Service” last May in the Pentagon auditorium.
Hegseth opened the event, which was shown via internal television, with prayer and his belief that the U.S. needs to be “in prayer, on bended knee recognizing the providence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The preacher was Hegseth’s pastor, Brooks Potteiger, who recently prayed for the demise of Texas Democrat James Talarico.
As the sessions continued monthly, employees received invitations emblazoned with a cross and guest preachers have included Franklin Graham and Christian nationalist Doug Wilson, who co-founded Hegseth’s denomination.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced last December she was starting her own prayer service after being inspired by Hegseth. The only non-Christian to participate was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi who condemned abortion and LGBTQ people.
“The federal government’s role is to serve the public, not to proselytize,” said Americans United President 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.”
Laser said AU has created a religious freedom “Know Your Rights” guide to help federal employees navigate the administration’s assault on church-state separation.
“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.”
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