A legal battle is unfolding after an Idaho Army National Guard officer was allegedly removed from his position due to his religious beliefs. Maj. David Worley has filed a lawsuit claiming he was stripped of his command after a fellow guardsman complained about his past statements regarding gender issues and drag queen story hours.
According to court documents, the complaint against Worley came from a subordinate who took issue with comments he had made years before assuming command. These remarks, which were shared on social media while Worley was running for office, criticized the exposure of children to pornography in libraries and medical gender transitions for minors.
Despite an internal investigation finding no wrongdoing, Worley was pressured to resign. When he withdrew his resignation, the Idaho Army National Guard launched a formal review, ultimately removing him from command. Officials reportedly described his views as “toxic” and introduced a new policy requiring all future leadership candidates to undergo scrutiny for so-called extremist ideologies.
Liberty Counsel, the legal group representing Worley, argues that this new policy effectively blocks Christians from holding command positions. The lawsuit contends that the National Guard’s actions violate constitutional protections for religious freedom.
The controversy has gained national attention, particularly following President Donald Trump’s recent executive order aimed at eliminating anti-Christian bias in the military. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been assigned to oversee efforts to combat religious discrimination, putting the Idaho case under heightened scrutiny.
The Idaho Army National Guard has not issued a statement on the lawsuit, and Gov. Brad Little has yet to respond to calls for action.
