In January 2018, the Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) established a new division in its Office for Civil Rights (OCR): the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division (CRFD). According to HHS, the CRFD was established to “more vigorously and effectively enforce existing laws protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom.” However, the OCR’s Civil Rights Division (CRD) already had jurisdiction over enforcing conscience and religious freedom laws and was doing so effectively. Moreover, conscience-related complaints have historically averaged at just 1.25 per year. The establishment of an entire division for such an issue is troubling in that it indicates a reprioritization of the OCR’s mission.
HHS’ latest budget proposal further illuminates the shifted priorities of the OCR and its director, Roger Severino. Among other things, the proposal seeks to weaken enforcement of civil rights protections and give credence to discrimination against LGBTQ people. This column takes a look at how the OCR budget requests reflect the priorities of the Trump administration when it comes to civil rights—and how Severino’s policies are particularly harmful to the civil rights of LGBTQ people. Continue reading “HHS Budget Would Fund Discrimination at Expense of Civil Rights Enforcement”