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A 98% denial rate is not a process. It is a decision made in advance. July 26, 2026 Children’s Health Defense amended its complaint against Secretary Hegseth to add three active-duty Air Force plaintiffs, alleging the Department denied religious accommodation requests at a rate of roughly 98 percent. Attention F4F friends, supporters, and members. We wrote this one up on 26 July 2026 because it is the same fight, in a different building. Children’s Health Defense amended

You only have to explain the conflict. Not defend the theology. July 24, 2026 In Weiss v. The Permanente Medical Group, the Ninth Circuit revived a fired remote worker’s religious accommodation claim and warned employers against delving into employees’ religious practices. Nine days after the Second Circuit raised the bar, the Ninth Circuit lowered a different one. In Weiss v. The Permanente Medical Group, Inc., No. 24-6609 (9th Cir. 24 July 2026), the panel reversed dism

"There was no pandemic exception." July 20, 2026 The EEOC announced a $5 million agreement with Battelle Energy Alliance, the contractor that runs Idaho National Laboratory, resolving religious and disability accommodation charges from more than 100 employees under its COVID-19 vaccine mandate. On 20 July 2026 the EEOC announced that Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC — the DOE contractor that manages Idaho National Laboratory — agreed to pay $5 million in back pay and compens

Read this one twice. July 15, 2026 In Bergin v. New York State Unified Court System, the Second Circuit threw out its own long-standing test for religious accommodation claims and replaced it with one that requires proving the employer’s intent. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): if you have a religious accommodation claim in the Second Circuit, the bar moved on 15 July 2026, and it moved against you. In Bergin v. New York State Unified Court System, No. 25-721 (2d Cir. 15 July