Department of Labor Holds First-Ever Prayer Service, Drawing Employee Pushback and Constitutional Questions

The Department of Labor held its first-ever prayer service for employees this week, a highly unusual event that has prompted mixed reactions and raised questions about the role of faith-based gatherings in federal workplaces. The service took place Wednesday morning inside the agency’s main auditorium and featured a speech by Rabbi Yaakov Menken, who advocated for what he described as religious liberty in the workplace but also criticized gay marriage, transgender identity, and the use of gender pronouns. Several employees who attended the event told CNN they were surprised and offended by the remarks.

One employee described the language as “unnecessary cruelty,” while another, who identified as queer, said they were “appalled” to hear themselves described in such terms at a federal workplace event. Menken, speaking to CNN later, disputed the characterization that his comments were hateful and said he intended to promote religious freedom rather than target individuals.

The service included multiple Christian prayers, scripture readings, the Lord’s Prayer, and hymns such as Amazing Grace and God Bless America. It also acknowledged Advent and Hanukkah but not other cultural or religious holidays occurring during the same season. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer addressed the gathering and noted she carries a rosary with beads representing each state.

A Department of Labor spokesperson emphasized that the service was voluntary and nondenominational, noting that employees who did not wish to participate could continue their work as usual. Emails sent department-wide promoted the event as an optional gathering available in person or virtually.

The initiative mirrors earlier steps taken within the Trump administration to reinterpret boundaries between government and religion in the workplace. This summer, the Office of Personnel Management issued guidance allowing federal employees to more openly express religious beliefs at work, display religious items, and pray individually or with colleagues. The Pentagon also launched its own Christian prayer services earlier this year, a move that constitutional experts have criticized.

Legal scholars say the Labor Department’s event likely does not violate the Constitution unless employees begin to feel coerced into participating. Still, experts acknowledge that hosting such a service in an official government setting may alienate some workers and raise concerns about inclusivity and leadership judgment.

Some employees who contacted CNN said that across multiple administrations, they had never witnessed a cabinet-level department host a formal religious ceremony. They expressed concern that the longstanding separation of church and state in their workplace may be eroding.

The debate is expected to continue as agencies interpret new federal guidelines on religious expression and as additional events may be planned in the months ahead.

Credit: CNN Newsource
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