DOL Contractor Religious Exemption Rule Under White House Review

The US Department of Labor’s final rule to rescind a Trump-era rule that broadened religious exemptions federal contractors can raise to shield themselves from liability for discrimination is under review at the White House budget office.

The DOL’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs sent the regulation (RIN: 1250-AA09) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Wednesday, the last step before the rule is published in the Federal Register.

The Trump administration rule, which took effect in January 2021, has been subject to lawsuits from states and unions, who say the regulation weakens anti-bias laws and could ...