Christian Groups Challenge Dismissal Lawsuit of Former EEOC Member
In a move that highlights ongoing tensions between religious freedom and employment mandates, two Christian organizations are seeking to intervene in a lawsuit filed by Jocelyn Samuels, a former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) member. Samuels, who was dismissed by President Donald Trump, is contesting her removal, arguing it was unjustified. The Christian Employers Alliance (CEA) and Choices Pregnancy Centers of Greater Phoenix, Inc., represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, have submitted a motion to intervene in the case.
“The Court should not assess Samuels’ removal’s validity without hearing from the very employers that the removal seeks to protect,” the brief states. The organizations argue that Samuels’ support for employment mandates on gender identity and abortion conflicted with their religious beliefs.
During her tenure, Samuels and fellow Commissioner Charlotte Burrows interpreted civil rights legislation to include mandates that employers cover gender transition surgeries and elective abortions. This interpretation was met with resistance from religious groups who argue it violates their beliefs.
President Trump, upon taking office, ordered these mandates to be rescinded. Samuels and Burrows’ refusal to comply led to their dismissal. Samuels, originally appointed during the Obama administration, claims her dismissal violates the EEOC’s fixed-term policy and is seeking reinstatement.
The CEA and Choices Pregnancy Center maintain that the president should have the authority to remove officials if their policies clash with his constitutional obligations. The CEA emphasizes its commitment to defending religious freedom and notes that its members cannot comply with mandates that contradict their beliefs about gender and the sanctity of life.
Earlier, the CEA secured a March 2024 judgment preventing the enforcement of similar mandates by the EEOC and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The situation also touches upon broader questions of presidential power over independent agencies. The 1935 Supreme Court ruling in Humphrey’s Executor vs. United States limited such power, but recent decisions have expanded it. A recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit affirmed the president’s authority to dismiss appointees at independent agencies.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt remarked, “As for agencies within the president’s executive authority, the president retains that right,” emphasizing the president’s control over such agencies.
The CEA warns that a court decision in favor of Samuels could lead to the immediate reinstatement of contentious mandates by the EEOC, justifying their intervention in the lawsuit.
CEA President Margaret Iuculano expressed support for Trump’s decision, stating, “CEA supports President Trump’s right to control the EEOC. He has the mandate of the American people, not un-elected commissioners who have imposed woke policies on businesses and nonprofits across this nation.”
This week, EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas appointed former CEA President Shannon Royce as her chief of staff, further entrenching the influence of religious organizations within the EEOC.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
