The U.S. Department of Education has reportedly announced its plan to scrap several rules and regulations, including restrictions related to federal funding for religiously-affiliated schools.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is reportedly planning to review the regulations that govern how faith-based schools receive and use money from the federal government.
"Various provisions of the department's regulations regarding eligibility of faith-based entities and activities do not reflect the latest case law regarding religion or unnecessarily restrict religion," said Liz Hill, an Education Department spokeswoman, according to The New York Times. "The department plans to review and to amend such regulations in order to be more inclusive," she added.
A document obtained by Politico suggested that the Education Department is drawing up plan to assemble a panel that will negotiate changes to the requirements for religious colleges taking part in student aid programs.
The department said that some religious colleges are being "unnecessarily" restricted from participating in federal programs, noting that some rules are "overly broad in their prohibition of activities or services that relate to sectarian instruction or religious worship."
"Other provisions may be overly broad in prohibiting the benefits a borrower may receive based on faith-based activity." the document stated, as reported by Politico.
The document hinted at the education department's plans to amend regulations "regarding the eligibility of faith-based entities to obtain grants from the department or to participate in state-administered programs and the activities that they may perform."
The proposal follows a Supreme Court ruling in June that declared Missouri's decision to deny funds to a church-run preschool to be unconstitutional. The Trinity Lutheran Church had sued the state after being excluded from receiving a state grant to make its playground safer.
Last year, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued guidance detailing how agencies can enforce federal laws to bolster religious protections.
The New York Times noted that federal law contains several restrictions on funding for higher education and faith-based institutions.
One regulation prohibits the use of work-study financial aid for the construction or maintenance of facilities used for religious worship.
Another rule bars state education departments from partnering with "pervasively sectarian" institutions for the Gear Up program, which provides funding for tutors, mentors and outreach efforts for at-risk youths.
Republican lawmakers appear to be aggressively fighting against restrictions on religious schools. According to The New York Times, a legislation called the Prosper Act has been introduced in the House to allow religious colleges to bar same-sex relationships and allow religious student groups to bar applicants or members who are not of the same faith.
