The US State Department has issued a request to employees that they report any incidents of “anti-Christian bias” which might have taken place under the Biden administration.
“The task force will collect information and ideas from individuals and groups, including Department employees, affected by anti-Christian bias or other religious discriminatory conduct,” the cable says.
A cable sent by Marco Rubio to all diplomatic staff read: “The task force is soliciting examples of anti-religious bias, particularly from the past four years, where the Department targeted anyone for their religion, including discrimination, harassment, exclusion, disciplinary action, adverse security clearance determinations, or any other adverse action, or in retaliation for exercising their religious rights.
“This includes anti-religious bias committed by department employees in their official duties against members of the public.”
Examples of “bias” included discrimination for opposing flags or pronouns.
The letter, obtained by the Associated Press, says that complaints can be lodged anonymously.
State employees were told incidents must be reported to Heather Olowski, the wife of Lew Olowski, who was controversially appointed to serve as the senior official in the State Department’s personnel office. This role is typically given to a more senior figure.
Olowski’s anti-immigration social media posts have given him a notorious reputation among fellow staffers. AP reports them being shared on staff group chats.
It comes as the man responsible with dismantling USAID, Pete Marocco, has unexpectedly left the State Department.
Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters that Marocco was filling “an indispensable role in aligning all U.S. government foreign assistance with the president’s priorities.”