DHS gets pushback for celebrating the true meaning of Christmas
By Easton Martin | December 27, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security drew criticism on Christmas Day after posting a message on X that read, “Rejoice America, Christ is born!” The post prompted backlash from internet Grinches who argued the message violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing an official religion.
The dispute quickly spread online, with people claiming a federal agency should not use explicitly Christian language. This reaction however reflects a misunderstanding of both the Constitution and the nature of Christmas itself.
Legal scholars have long noted that the Establishment Clause bars the government from coercing religious belief or establishing a state church, not from acknowledging religious holidays or their historical meaning. Courts have consistently upheld the government’s ability to recognize Christmas as a federal holiday, including references to its religious origins, so long as no one is compelled to participate in religious observance.
Christmas has been recognized as a federal holiday since 1870, and its celebration has always been tied to the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. While modern observances sometimes emphasize commercial aspects, the holiday remains rooted in a Christian event, the historical fact of the birth of Jesus.
