(DCNF)—The Biden Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sat on its hands as it was flooded with thousands of discrimination charges related to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, acting Chair Andrea Lucas said in an interview with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Major new settlements and lawsuits over the mandates, which Lucas called one of the “greatest civil rights violations” of the past few decades, signal a substantial shift in priorities since President Donald Trump selected her to lead the agency in January.
“During fiscal year 2022 alone, we got almost 13,000 religious accommodation requests,” she told the DCNF, noting the requests made up 20% of the agency’s discrimination charges.
Even this number is “only a fraction” of the thousands of other people pushed out of jobs or refused accommodations during the mandates, Lucas said, yet Biden-appointees chose not to “spotlight” concerns.
“The agency was doing some work, but it was always doing it quietly,” Lucas said. “It was shoving it under the rug … It didn’t want to push it because it wasn’t the right narrative, apparently, for the Biden administration.”
One health care system with clinics in Illinois and Wisconsin, Mercyhealth, agreed to a $1 million settlement on Wednesday, which will provide financial compensation to employees wrongfully terminated for refusing to comply with its vaccine mandate for religious reasons. The settlement includes an offer to reinstate fired employees.
“When a worker has been harmed and shoved out of their job, you can give them money to try to help compensate, but the chance to go back into their well-paying job at a solid hospital system — that can really change the course of someone’s life,” Lucas said.
The EEOC launched new lawsuits against the Mayo Clinic in July and Silver Cross in August for failing to provide religious accommodations to their COVID-19 vaccine policies. Two Las Vegas casinos likewise agreed in July to settle religious discrimination charges over vaccine mandates.
Recent agency actions stand in stark contrast to Biden’s EEOC, which announced one religious discrimination lawsuit against United Healthcare Services for its COVID-19 vaccine policy in 2023.
Lucas noted the agency did previously recover $55 million for some individuals who filed religious or disability accommodations related to vaccine mandates between the Biden administration and the Trump administration, but almost “none of it was public.”
“It was all confidential settlements that were really hushed up,” she said. “We’re not doing that anymore. When we secure an important religious liberty victory, we’re going to talk about it wherever we can.”
The Supreme Court blocked enforcement of President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for large private businesses in January 2022, finding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lacked authority to impose the rule. In December 2023, it directed lower courts to wipe rulings on mandates for federal employees and military members that had been rescinded by the administration.
Petitions in several cases over mandates imposed by local governments are currently pending at the Supreme Court, including lawsuits brought by workers denied religious exemptions.
Religious liberty is foundational, not a “second class right,” Lucas said.
Under Lucas’ leadership, the EEOC has also secured religious liberty victories and filed lawsuits outside of the vaccine mandate space.
“We also recovered close to $1 million recently against several different casinos for a host of religious accommodation requests that they had denied,” Lucas said. “Anything from the request to be able to have a beard, or to be able to take off time for a prayer service, to wear a skirt instead of pants — there’s a lot of low to no-cost accommodations that employers sometimes routinely refuse. We were really excited to be able to gather that much money for employees who were harmed.”
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Three Reasons a Coffee Gift Set From This Christian Company Is Perfect for Christmas
When you’re searching for a Christmas gift that’s meaningful, useful, and rooted in faith, you don’t want to settle for anything generic. This season is filled with noise — mass-produced products, last-minute picks, and trends that fade as quickly as they appear. But one gift stands apart because it blends genuine quality with a message that matters: a coffee gift set from Promised Grounds Coffee.
This small Christian-owned company has become a favorite among believers who want to support faith-driven businesses while giving friends and family something they’ll actually enjoy. Here are three reasons a Promised Grounds Coffee gift set may be the most thoughtful and impactful present you give this year.
1. It’s Truly Delicious Coffee
Too many “gift-worthy” coffees look beautiful in the package but disappoint when the cup is poured. Promised Grounds takes the opposite approach — exceptional taste first, thoughtful presentation second.
Their beans are sourced with care, roasted in small batches, and crafted to bring out a rich, smooth flavor profile that appeals to both casual drinkers and true coffee lovers. Whether someone enjoys bold, dark roasts or lighter, more delicate blends, every sip reflects quality that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the biggest specialty brands.
Simply put: this coffee is good. Really good. Some say it’s absolutely fantastic. If you want a gift that won’t be re-gifted, ignored, or shoved in a cabinet, this is it.
2. It Spreads the Word While Serving a Real Purpose
There are many Christian gifts that are meaningful… but not exactly practical. There are also useful gifts that have nothing to do with faith. Promised Grounds Coffee bridges both worlds beautifully.
Each gift set delivers an encouraging, faith-centered message through its packaging and presentation — a simple but powerful reminder of God’s goodness during the Christmas season. The cups are especially popular and serve as a daily reminder of the blessings from our Lord. At the same time, the product itself is something people will actually use and appreciate every single day.
It’s a gift that uplifts the spirit and fills the mug. A gift that points loved ones toward Scripture while still being part of the normal rhythm of life. And in a culture that increasingly pushes faith to the margins, giving a gift that quietly but confidently honors Christ can make a deeper impact than you might expect.
3. It’s Affordable, Valuable, and Elegantly Presented
Many people want to give something meaningful without breaking their Christmas budget. Promised Grounds Coffee strikes that perfect balance — the sets look and feel premium, but the price remains accessible.
The packaging is classy, clean, and gift-ready, making it ideal for:
- Family members of all ages
- Co-workers or employees
- Church friends or small-group leaders
- Hosts, neighbors, and last-minute gift needs
It’s the kind of gift that feels more expensive than it is — and more thoughtful than most of what you’ll find on store shelves.
The Perfect Blend of Faith, Flavor, and Christmas Cheer
A coffee gift set from Promised Grounds Coffee checks every box: a gift that tastes amazing, conveys your faith, supports a Christian business, and brings daily enjoyment to the person who receives it. In a season when so many gifts are forgotten, this one stands out for all the right reasons.
If you want a Christmas present that reflects your values and delivers genuine joy, Promised Grounds Coffee is the perfect place to start.