Dear Union Colleagues,
I’m writing this post to raise serious concerns about a new and troubling policy direction from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). On April 23, VA Secretary Doug Collins announced an agency-wide investigation into perceived anti-Christian bias. Employees are being asked to report incidents such as denial of religious exemptions, disciplinary actions for displaying Christian symbols, or even being expected to participate in procedures that may conflict with their beliefs. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/04/23/va-asks-employees-report-anti-christian-bias-it-launches-agency-wide-investigation.html
While no one disputes the importance of religious freedom, this initiative feels less like a fair policy and more like a deeply hypocritical move — essentially a “DEI” program built solely to protect conservative Christians.
Here’s why this policy is troubling:
- Selective Protection: It prioritizes one faith group, ignoring the diversity of religious and non-religious beliefs in our workplace — from Muslims, Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists to atheists, agnostics, and humanists.
- Weaponized Reporting: Encouraging employees to report colleagues based on vague and subjective perceptions opens the door to retaliation, overreach, and mistrust.
- Undermining Real Inclusion: Real diversity, equity, and inclusion means everyone is protected — not just those who align with a particular religious or political ideology.
- Erosion of Union Solidarity: This policy risks dividing coworkers, shifting our focus from collective action and mutual respect to finger-pointing and ideology policing.
And I want to speak plainly here — as a Veteran who uses the VA for my own health care, I know firsthand how much we Veterans and our families depend on a strong, healthy VA system. That system only works when it’s built on the merit, professionalism, and dedication of the staff — not favoritism, political agendas, or forced ideological conformity.
If we care about Veterans, we must care about the integrity of the people who serve them. That means pushing back against any policy that creates fear, division, or inequality in our ranks.
Let’s stand together. Let’s demand fairness for all employees. Let’s protect the mission of the VA by protecting each other.
In solidarity,
Gary
P.S. I found this video to be both humorous and informative, while also raising concerns. I recommend watching.