Washington, DC—The budget agreement that the Senate votes on today includes provisions that would, for the first time, require American taxpayers to directly fund the construction and furnishing of houses of worship....
Before Prayer Breakfast, 145 Groups Remind Lawmakers of the Importance of Nonprofit Nonpartisanship
Washington, DC—Today, in advance of Thursday’s National Prayer Breakfast, 145 organizations including American Atheists called on leaders in the House and Senate Appropriations committees to preserve the integrity of our nation’s charitable nonprofits, houses of worship, and foundations by rejecting any attempt to undermine the Johnson Amendment....
Atheists Denounce Trump Administration’s New “Religious Freedom” Office and Dangerous Rules Promoting Discrimination
Washington, DC—As part of its continued assault on LGBTQ people and women under the guise of “religious freedom,” the Trump administration has announced the creation of a new “Conscience and Religious Freedom Division” within the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights. The new division would be…...
FEMA Should Stay Out of the Church-Building Business
Washington, DC—Yesterday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it would change its longstanding policies to allow taxpayer-funded grants to rebuild churches and other houses of worship damaged in natural disasters. This policy change would allow, for the first time, federal funds earmarked for disaster relief to be used…...
American Atheists Applauds Removal of Johnson Amendment Repeal From GOP Tax Bill
Washington, DC—In a statement late Thursday, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced that the final version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1) will not include a provision that would have permitted churches to engage in electoral politics, after it was blocked by the Senate parliamentarian. The version of…...
Amended GOP Tax Bill Still Destroys Johnson Amendment
Washington, DC—Today, in a party line vote, the House Ways and Means Committee approved changes to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that would demolish more than 60 years of nonprofit neutrality by allowing all 501(c)(3) organizations, including churches, to endorse and oppose political candidates and wade into partisan politics....