A former commanding officer in the Idaho Army National Guard is suing the state, claiming he was unlawfully removed from his position for his religious beliefs. Maj. David Worley, with the support of Liberty Counsel, has filed legal action arguing that the National Guard discriminated against him by implementing a policy that excludes Christians from leadership roles.
Worley had been assigned to lead the Recruiting and Retention unit but was quickly targeted after a subordinate found his past social media posts. The posts, made while he was a candidate for public office, criticized drag queen events for children, explicit content in public school libraries, and gender-related medical procedures for minors. A complaint was filed, accusing him of creating a “toxic” work environment, despite the fact that Worley had not yet taken command when the posts were made.
After the complaint, Worley was pressured to resign. When he refused and sought legal assistance, the Idaho Army National Guard launched an investigation. The findings revealed that there was no evidence of misconduct. However, instead of reinstating Worley, National Guard officials moved forward with his removal.
Following Worley’s removal, a new policy was introduced requiring all future command candidates to be vetted for “extremist” beliefs. The lawsuit contends that this policy disproportionately impacts Christians who hold traditional values, effectively barring them from leadership positions. Liberty Counsel has called the policy unconstitutional and is seeking an immediate injunction against its enforcement.
The lawsuit comes at a time when President Donald Trump has made defending religious liberty a priority. His administration recently enacted measures to curb discrimination against Christians in the military, schools, and government agencies. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been assigned to investigate cases of religious discrimination, making the Idaho National Guard’s policy a potential focal point for federal review.
Officials from the Idaho National Guard have yet to respond to the allegations, and Gov. Brad Little has not made a statement on the issue.
