LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is refusing to reverse her decision to close state offices on Friday, Dec. 26, for Christmas, pushing back sharply against a legal group that called the move unconstitutional.
Sanders issued a proclamation earlier this month granting state employees a four-day holiday weekend to celebrate Christmas and spend time with their families.
Legal Group Raises Constitutional Objection
Following the announcement, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent Sanders a letter urging her to rescind the proclamation. The group argued the order violated the First Amendment by advancing Christian theology through official state speech.
FFRF objected not to the office closure itself, but to the religious language included in the proclamation. The group said Sanders crossed a constitutional line by presenting Christian beliefs as fact.
Sanders Rejects Demand to Reverse Decision
In a response letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Sanders rejected the group’s claims and made clear she would not rescind the proclamation.
“You say that my communications as Governor must be neutral on matters of religion,” Sanders wrote. “I say that, even if I wanted to do that, it would be impossible.”
Sanders argued Christmas cannot be separated from its religious meaning. She said the holiday is not defined by gifts or decorations, but by the birth of Jesus Christ.
“Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ,” Sanders wrote. “If we are to honor Him properly, we should tell His story properly.”
Governor Defends Religious Expression
Sanders also pushed back on claims that her actions alienated non-Christian Arkansans. She said she received the FFRF letter while leaving a menorah lighting ceremony attended by people of many faiths.
“I doubt they would say that my administration alienates non-Christians,” Sanders wrote. “By voicing our own faith and celebrating others, we help diverse communities feel seen and heard.”
She emphasized that her proclamation did not aim to pressure Arkansans to adopt Christian beliefs.
“The point was not to browbeat readers with doctrine,” Sanders wrote. “It was to highlight the humility of Christ’s birth.”
FFRF Accuses Sanders of Overreach
FFRF responded by accusing Sanders of using her office to promote religion. The organization said her letter showed a disregard for the constitutional separation of church and state.
FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said the governor spoke as a public official, not as a private citizen.
“She is invoking her authority as governor to preach Christian beliefs,” Gaylor said. “That is precisely what the Establishment Clause forbids.”
Dispute Centers on Official State Speech
FFRF Legal Counsel Chris Line said state proclamations should not serve as religious sermons.
“State offices are not churches,” Line said. “Government proclamations are not sermons.”
The group argued that while Christmas is a federal holiday, public officials must recognize it in a secular and inclusive manner. FFRF said Sanders instead used the occasion to recite core Christian doctrine.
Ongoing Debate Over Religion and Government
FFRF also cited the Arkansas Constitution, which bars the government from favoring any religious belief. The group noted that nearly one in five Arkansans identify as religiously unaffiliated.
Sanders has not indicated any plans to amend or withdraw the proclamation. Her office said the decision to close state offices remains in effect.
