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USDA Secretary Rollins sent proselytizing Christian Easter message to 100,000 federal employees, declaring sin destroyed and Jesus risen

On April 5, 2026 — Easter Sunday — USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins sent an agency-wide email to all 100,000 USDA employees declaring that "sin has been destroyed" and "Jesus has been raised from the dead," using phrases like "we celebrate" and "our faith," and quoting multiple Bible verses. The message was part of a pattern of Christian-infused agency communications spanning Thanksgiving, Christmas, Memorial Day, and Independence Day, while Rollins sent no message acknowledging any other religion's holidays. Federal employees and the National Federation of Federal Employees union subsequently filed suit alleging Establishment Clause violations, and plaintiffs filed for a preliminary injunction on July 23, 2026, after Rollins continued the practice despite the pending lawsuit.

Jurisdiction
Federal
Location
Washington, D.C.

Abuses documented

Actors

On April 5, 2026 — Easter Sunday — USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins sent an agency-wide email to all 100,000 USDA employees declaring that "sin has been destroyed. Jesus has been raised from the dead." The message used phrases like "we celebrate" and "our faith" in communications addressed to the entire department, and quoted multiple Bible verses. It was carried through official agency channels that employees are required to monitor as a condition of their employment. [1]

The Easter email was part of a broader pattern of Christian-infused agency communications. Rollins's Thanksgiving and Christmas 2025 messages had also embedded scripture, with the Christmas email stating that "God gave us the greatest gift possible, the gift of his Son." Her Memorial Day message stated that fallen service members were "safely at rest by trusting in the words of Almighty God" and quoted John 10:28. Her Independence Day email told employees that "scripture teaches us that 'where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom' (2 Corinthians 3:17)." Rollins sent no message acknowledging any other religion's holidays.

2026-05-13 — Federal employees and NFFE union filed Establishment Clause lawsuit [2, 3, 4]

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Democracy Forward, and Bryan Schwartz Law filed suit in federal court on behalf of six USDA workers and the National Federation of Federal Employees, representing approximately 110,000 federal employees. The lawsuit, National Federation of Federal Employees v. USDA, alleges that because employees are required to read agency emails as a condition of employment, the messages constitute government-sponsored religious coercion in violation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. Rather than modifying her practice in response, Rollins announced on social media that the filing was "just another opportunity to remind everyone: He is Risen," then continued sending religiously infused messages on Memorial Day and Independence Day.

2026-07-23 — Plaintiffs filed motion for preliminary injunction [5, 6]

Plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop Rollins from continuing the practice, arguing that absent court intervention she would send similar messages through Christmas and beyond.

Why we recorded this

The First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibits government officials from using their offices to promote or favor any religion. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins sent agency-wide emails to all 100,000 USDA employees infusing Christian scripture and theology into holiday messages — not only for Christian holidays such as Easter but also for secular observances including Memorial Day and Independence Day. Employees are required to read official agency emails as a condition of their work, making the messages effectively compelled exposure to sectarian religious content from a supervisor with authority over their employment. When sued, Rollins publicly responded that the lawsuit was "just another opportunity to remind everyone: He is Risen" and continued the practice. This archive records documented, ongoing government favoritism toward Christianity conducted through a federal department's official communications channel.

Sources

  1. USDA chief sent Easter email with Bible verses to all 100,000 employees — The Washington Post investigative accessed July 26, 2026
  2. Agriculture employees sue Rollins over escalating religious messaging — Federal News Network investigative accessed July 26, 2026
  3. Trump's USDA chief is sending 'proselytizing Christian messages' to workers: lawsuit — The Independent investigative accessed July 25, 2026
  4. Lawsuit accuses agriculture secretary of 'religious coercion' in staff emails — ABC News investigative accessed July 25, 2026
  5. Federal Employees Seek Court Order to Stop USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins From Proselytizing Staff — Democracy Forward primary accessed July 25, 2026
  6. Federal employees seek court order to stop USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins from proselytizing staff — Americans United for Separation of Church and State primary accessed July 25, 2026

See also