Washington (CNN) The Trump administration on Thursday announced it is updating federal guidance for prayer in public schools and other initiatives aimed at protecting religious freedom , which administration officials said are aimed at reducing discrimination against people and groups of faith. "This afternoon we're proudly announcing historic steps to protect the First Amendment right to pray in public schools. There's nothing more important than that, I would say," President Donald Trump said Thursday alongside administration officials, religious representatives, students and teacher advocates. With the updated guidance on prayer in public schools, the department will also be "fulfilling a statutory requirement to issue guidance on constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools" -- guidance that's required to be updated every two years, but hasn't been updated since 2003. During the last United Nations General Assembly, Trump announced new initiatives as part of a global call for protecting religious freedom.

Source: CNN January 16, 2020 22:41 UTC