The Biden administration has put another two Trump-era rules in its crosshairs. Now, The Health Human Services Department (HHS) is reportedly considering revoking the authority the Trump administration gave to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) to prevent violations of religious liberty.
According to a leaked internal memo, two Trump-era protections related to the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) are being targeted by Biden’s HHS.
Fox News reports:
The RFRA delegation came on Dec. 7, 2017, in response to the administration’s broader efforts to beef up religious liberty protections. Citing President Trump’s executive order on the issue, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions provided executive agencies with a long list of guidelines on RFRA, free exercise claims, contraception in insurance plans and other issues.
HHS followed by granting OCR authority to, among other things, conduct RFRA compliance reviews and “initiate such other actions as may be necessary to facilitate and ensure compliance with RFRA.”
The memo, which comes from OCR argued the Trump administration over-expanded OCR’s authority and indicates intent to repeal the initiatives.
“Prior to the delegation in 2017, no division was singularly responsible for the Department’s compliance with RFRA or the First Amendment,” it reads.
“That model recognized that all components of HHS had a responsibility for compliance and that OGC [Office of General Counsel] was a central partner in providing key legal advice on RFRA and defending the Department when RFRA claims were raised. Rescinding the delegation to OCR does not lessen the commitment of the Department to compliance, but ensures that it is not misused by any one agency to enact a broad, proactive agenda.”
During his confirmation hearing, Becerra previously pledged to protect religious liberty but this latest move has already caused others to accuse him of going back on his word. Roger Severino, who led OCR in the Trump administration slammed Becerra over the memo.