Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing three Texas university work-study programs, claiming they discriminate against religious students and sectarian employers, including Christian organizations. He argues that programs like the Texas College Work-Study Program, the Texas Working Off-Campus: Reinforcing Knowledge and Skills Internship Program, and the Texas Innovative Adult Career Education Grant Program violate First Amendment rights by limiting access to State funds, according to the Office of the Texas Attorney General.
Paxton criticized the programs for requiring State-funded activities to remain “nonsectarian,” creating barriers for students pursuing religious education. He emphasized, "These anti-Christian laws targeting religious students must be completely wiped off the books," asserting that such restrictions contradict the nation’s founding principles supporting religious expression, as reported by the Office of the Texas Attorney General.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the court to declare that certain taxpayer-funded education programs are unconstitutional if they exclude people because of their religious education. He cites U.S. Supreme Court decisions and case law that protect religious freedom. The lawsuit asks for the programs to be reviewed to ensure they do not discriminate against religious individuals and could affect how similar programs handle religion in the future, as stated by the Office of the Texas Attorney General.
