A newly released report from a Department of Justice task force alleges that the Biden administration systematically targeted Christians with traditional biblical views, using federal law enforcement to “zealously” investigate and prosecute individuals over their religious convictions.
The 200-page document, issued Thursday by the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, claims that officials forced believers to choose between their faith and federal compliance, often resulting in heavy fines and “aggressive” criminal charges.
The task force, established under the Trump administration in early 2025, outlined 14 specific findings. Among the most significant is the claim that the Department of Justice and the FBI engaged in “secretly keeping tabs” on Catholic priests.
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The report details the fallout of a January 2023 FBI memo from the Richmond, Va., field office that suggested monitoring “radical-traditionalist” Catholics. Investigators found that agents used the arrest of Xavier Louis Lopez—a self-described “clerical fascist” caught with explosives—as a justification to open a law enforcement profile on an entire church.
According to the report, agents tracked the parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) Chapel and monitored his travel to Kentucky. Internal emails show that when the priest declined to be interviewed without an attorney, the FBI viewed the move as “suspicious,” using it as cover for a broader evaluation of the congregation. This occurred despite the church having no role in Lopez’s illegal activities.
The report also highlights a disparity in sentencing under the FACE Act, alleging that pro-life Christians received longer prison terms than pro-abortion activists for similar federal violations.
Furthermore, the task force found that the previous administration reversed conscience-protections, specifically citing a case where a Christian nurse was allegedly coerced into participating in an abortion procedure against her religious objections.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who chairs the task force, stated that the findings show a pattern of “devastating” actions against people of faith.
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“The Biden Administration generally tolerated religious beliefs that were privately held but zealously pursued actions to limit Christians’ ability to act in accordance with their faith,” the report concluded.
While then-Attorney General Merrick Garland previously called the Richmond memo “appalling” and claimed no investigative action was taken, the task force unearthed internal emails suggesting senior staff stood by the tactics. One email from a high-ranking Richmond agent told the memo’s author, “No apology needed,” telling them to “keep that head up.”
The investigation also noted that Christian universities were fined at “exorbitant rates” and religious institutions were penalized over disputes involving vaccine mandates and girls’ athletics. The report marks the culmination of an executive order signed in February 2025 aimed at identifying and reversing perceived bias against Christians within federal agencies.
The 2026 Report from the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias details a systemic pattern of “weaponization of government” during the Biden administration. Pursuant to Executive Order 14202, the DOJ-led investigation identifies 14 key findings where federal agencies allegedly penalized Christians for their traditional biblical views on life, marriage, and gender.
Breaking It Down
A “Dogged Advocacy” Against Faith
The report asserts that while the nation was founded on a Christian worldview that protects religious pluralism, the previous administration viewed these traditions as an “impediment” to policy goals. The Task Force argues that the federal government moved from tolerating private belief to “zealously” pursuing actions that limited the ability of Christians to act in accordance with their faith.
I. Federal Enforcement and Civil Rights: “The Investigation was the Punishment”
The report highlights several “Key Findings” regarding how law enforcement and regulatory bodies targeted Christian individuals and organizations.
The FACE Act and Pro-Life Prosecution
The Task Force found that the Biden DOJ acted as an “enforcement arm” for pro-abortion NGOs like Planned Parenthood. Key findings include:
- Harsher Sentencing: The DOJ requested an average sentence of 26.8 months for peaceful pro-life defendants, compared to 12.3 months for pro-choice defendants.
- NGO Dossiers: Abortion groups reportedly prepared dossiers on Christian advocates, including photos of their children, which the DOJ used to search for chargeable offenses.
- Juror Screening: Prosecutors allegedly attempted to screen out “very Catholic” jurors and mocked Christian views as “culty.”
Targeting Traditional Catholics and Churches
The FBI’s Richmond Field Office is cited for monitoring “radical-traditionalist” Catholics without evidence of criminal misconduct. The report claims the FBI relied on “baseless allegations” from the Southern Poverty Law Center to label those devoted to the Traditional Latin Mass as potential domestic terrorists.
Additionally, the IRS is accused of non-neutral enforcement of the Johnson Amendment. In one case, a Christian organization was denied tax-exempt status because its Bible teachings were “affiliated with the [Republican] party.”
Fines Against Christian Universities
The Department of Education levied record-breaking fines against Christian institutions that “dwarfed” penalties given to secular schools for sexual assault scandals:
- Grand Canyon University: Fined $37.7 million over tuition reporting (later rescinded by the Trump administration).
- Liberty University: Fined $14 million under the Clery Act.
- Comparison: Penn State was fined only $2.4 million following the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal.
Policy Decisions: Conscience Rights Sidelined
The Task Force argues that the Biden administration’s expansion of the Bostock decision—redefining “sex” to include gender identity—was used to coerce Christian compliance in schools and workplaces.
Foster Care and Family Rights
The HHS reportedly issued rules that prevented foster children from being placed with Christian families who did not “affirm” gender ideology. This led to state agencies dissolving foster families that had been in place for years. The administration also sought to outlaw religious counseling (talk therapy) based on traditional views, labeling it “dangerous.”
Sidelining Christian Outreach
The report notes a deliberate exclusion of Christians from federal faith-based engagement. For example:
- DHS: Out of 61 faith-based engagements, only two involved Christians.
- Symbols of Faith: The DOL replaced its faith office with a “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” office. American embassies, including the Embassy to the Holy See, displayed pride flags while ignoring the persecution of Christians in places like Nigeria.
The Path Forward: Restoring Religious Liberty
The Task Force, chaired by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and including members like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (HHS) and Pete Hegseth (War), is actively working to remediate these findings.
Immediate Remedial Steps
- Rescinding Guidance: Agencies are revoking Biden-era memos that mandated gender ideology in schools and healthcare.
- Protecting Speech: The DOJ has intervened in cases like S.W. v. Loudoun County to protect the rights of Christian students in bathrooms and locker rooms.
- Restoring Chaplains: The Department of War has discontinued the “Spiritual Fitness Guide” to return chaplains to their roles as “spiritual and moral backbones” rather than “emotional support officers.”
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