Overview
- The National Federation of Federal Employees and seven USDA workers filed a federal suit Wednesday in the Northern District of California alleging Secretary Brooke Rollins used her office to promote Christian beliefs to employees.
- The complaint centers on an April 5 Easter email that said “Happy Easter — He is risen indeed!” and praised Jesus’ resurrection, which plaintiffs say capped a pattern of religious holiday messages that did not recognize other faiths.
- Plaintiffs ask the court for a declaratory judgment and a permanent injunction that would bar Rollins and USDA officials from sending proselytizing messages, citing the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause and the Administrative Procedure Act.
- Employees from varied faiths and no faith say the emails made them feel excluded and afraid to object, and some report they could not opt out because leadership messages may include job-related information.
- USDA declined to discuss the case and said it would keep plaintiffs in its prayers, and Rollins shared “He is Risen” on X after the filing, while the lawsuit remains pending.