The Department of Justice has referred Major League Baseball to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for further investigation over its handling of a dispute involving three San Francisco Giants players who objected to participating in a Pride Night promotion on religious grounds.
In a Thursday letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the department's Civil Rights Division said the league may have violated federal civil rights law if it failed to accommodate the players' religious beliefs.
The letter cites media reports that MLB warned or was considering disciplining three Giants players who declined to participate in the team's Pride Night activities and instead wrote Bible verses on their rainbow-colored caps.
Dhillon argued that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires employers to reasonably accommodate employees' religious observances unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on business operations.
"The Civil Rights Act prohibits MLB and its franchises from unreasonably burdening the rights of players with religious objections to serving as the league's vehicle for pro-Pride messages," Dhillon wrote.
The letter said federal law requires employers to modify workplace requirements when necessary to accommodate employees' exercise of religion.
MLB has maintained that any warning issued to the Giants players was not related to the content of their messages but rather to a league policy prohibiting players from writing on uniforms.
Dhillon questioned that explanation, pointing to MLB's previous approval of uniform patches supporting social justice causes, including Black Lives Matter patches worn in the 2020 season.
"MLB has allowed players to wear uniform patches reading 'Black Lives Matter,'" Dhillon wrote, arguing that the differing treatment raises questions about whether the league is applying its policies consistently.
DOJ's letter cited Supreme Court precedent holding that employers may not use facially neutral policies as a pretext for discrimination.
Dhillon said the Trump administration is committed to combating religious discrimination and holding employers accountable for violations of employees' religious rights.
"The Department of Justice will use all available means to hold employers accountable for violating the religious rights of their employees," she wrote.
The letter concludes by stating that the matter has been referred to the EEOC for further investigation.
The letter did not directly address the Giants beyond references to media reports.
The EEOC, which enforces federal workplace discrimination laws, has the authority to investigate complaints and determine whether violations of federal employment law have occurred.