Federal Workers Raise Alarm After Agriculture Secretary’s Easter Message Praising Jesus Triggers Complaint Over Workplace Religion

Some federal employees have raised concerns about religious messaging in the workplace. Wired reported the issue on Tuesday, April 14, after Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins sent an Easter email to all staff.

The email, titled “He has risen!”, and referenced the story of Jesus Christ as the foundation of faith and hope for mankind. Some employees viewed it as a personal expression, while others objected.

“In the email, Rollins calls the story of Jesus Christ the ‘greatest story ever told, the foundation of our faith, and the abiding hope of all mankind.’” the report read. This email led employees to react strongly, with some calling the email “grotesque”. A few others like Ethan Roberts even filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel.

Roberts alleged that Rollins’ email has “eroded the separation of church and state.” However, the Agriculture Department has defended the move. A USDA spokesperson said, “The secretary is within her rights to send a message to employees and the public on the Easter holiday, just like secretaries of agriculture and presidents have in the past.”

Meanwhile, the concerns are not limited to one department. Previously, “On February 11, the [Department of Labor] hosted pastor Leon Benjamin, who runs two churches and previously ran for Congress as a Republican, to speak to employees during the monthly prayer service”. Wired reported that the event made employees feel uncomfortable.

However, despite their discomfort, most employees are scared to speak up about the growing religious presence at work. While people like Ethan Roberts have filed complaints, one employee told the outlet that they are afraid of filing a complaint worrying it might lead to government retaliation.

“I've thought about complaining, but I would worry about some form of retaliation if I were to do that, to be honest,” the worker shared. Meanwhile, the concerns come as data shows a sharp drop in confidence, with only 22.5% of workers in 2025 believing they can report wrongdoing safely, compared to 71.9% in 2024.

Further, Wired also reported the religious uprising in the Department of Labor, while discussing the comments made during a worship service. Therein, Alveda King told employees, “We have different denominations, different faiths, and some have no faith—and those are the ones I would be more concerned about,”

Following her comments, one employee clarified the issue with the religious services, saying “People are uncomfortable. I know several who are offended and angry… They always spend a lot of time carrying on like, ‘No one's forcing you to pray, these are voluntary.’ But it's happening in the middle of a government workplace.”