Welcome to the first edition of the Restoration Report, a monthly briefing for Christian business owners who are engaged in the civic and spiritual battle for America. Each month we will cover the most pressing threat updates, legal developments from the Christian Employers Alliance, partner news from across the movement, and a featured story of a business owner who is standing firm. Forward this to a fellow Christian business owner who needs to hear it.

THREAT UPDATES

The CBDC Push Accelerates

Federal Reserve officials testified before the Senate Banking Committee in July 2026 that a digital dollar pilot program is “ahead of schedule.” The language shifted noticeably from “exploration” to “implementation readiness.” Critically, Congressional testimony confirmed that programmability remains a design feature under active consideration, meaning the government would retain the technical ability to restrict how and where digital currency is spent.

For Christian business owners, this is not an abstract technology question. A programmable currency is a compliance lever. If your business is ever designated non-compliant with federal equity or social-credit standards, your access to payment infrastructure could be restricted without a court order, without a hearing, and without recourse.

The time to understand this threat is before it arrives.

Read our full CBDC deep-dive at restorationstartshere.org/blog.

Ideological Pressure in Federal Contracting

New guidance from the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), released in June 2026, significantly expands what qualifies as a “covered contractor” for purposes of DEI reporting and enforcement. Small and mid-size businesses that previously operated below the threshold are now subject to new diversity-reporting requirements if they hold federal subcontracts of $50,000 or more.

Several Christian business owners who contacted us through Restoration Starts Here report being told by contracting officers that their company’s faith-based hiring guidelines “may need to be revisited” before contract renewal. That language did not appear in federal guidance last year. It is appearing now.

If you hold or are pursuing federal contracts, consult with an attorney who understands religious freedom law before your next renewal cycle.

Secularization in the Workforce

Gallup’s 2026 State of the Workforce study found that employees who identify as practicing Christians are now less likely than any other religious group to say they feel free to express their faith at work. The study found that 61% of practicing Christian employees self-censor their faith expression to avoid professional consequences.

This matters for Christian business owners on two levels. First, you may be surrounded by people who share your beliefs but have been silenced. Second, the culture driving that silence did not emerge by accident. It was built deliberately, through HR training programs, corporate DEI frameworks, and social pressure campaigns. You have the right and the responsibility to set a different standard inside your own company.

The Christian Employers Alliance continues to be one of the most effective legal shields available to faith-consistent businesses. Here is what they secured in July 2026.

Preventive Care Mandate Relief Extended

The CEA secured an extension of injunctive relief for member employers in the Eighth and Tenth Circuits, blocking enforcement of the Biden-era preventive care mandate that required employers to cover gender-transition interventions regardless of religious objection. The extension protects member businesses through the end of 2026 while appellate proceedings continue.

Healthcare Conscience Guidance Filed

CEA attorneys filed amicus briefs in two consolidated cases before the Fifth Circuit, arguing that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act requires the government to provide meaningful exemptions for employers whose healthcare coverage decisions are grounded in sincere religious belief. Oral arguments are scheduled for September.

Member Hotline Response Times

CEA reported that their legal team responded to 94% of member compliance inquiries within 48 hours in Q2 2026. For a business owner who receives a threatening letter or EEOC notice, that response time can be the difference between a manageable situation and a crisis.

If you are not a CEA member, visit christianemployers.org to learn about membership benefits for business owners of all sizes.

PARTNER NEWS

Alliance Defending Freedom: Supreme Court Preview

ADF has announced it will be filing briefs in three faith-and-commerce cases during the Court’s October 2026 term. These cases involve a Christian web designer, a faith-based adoption agency, and a small business owner penalized for declining to produce content celebrating a celebration that conflicts with their religious convictions. ADF attorneys call this term “the most consequential for religious liberty in commerce in a decade.” You can follow case developments at adflegal.org.

Family Research Council: State Legislature Report

FRC’s legislative tracking arm reports that 14 state legislatures passed some form of religious liberty protection in their 2026 sessions. Six states passed laws specifically protecting the employment decisions of faith-based employers. Iowa, Tennessee, and South Carolina passed the most comprehensive protections. If your business operates in a state that did not pass protections this cycle, the FRC state action team can connect you with local advocates working toward next session.

Center for Religious Expression: Free Legal Consultations

The Center for Religious Expression is offering free 30-minute consultations to small Christian business owners who have received complaints, investigations, or pressure letters from state civil rights agencies. These consultations are available through the end of September 2026. Contact them through crelaw.org.

FEATURED STORY: THE SIGN MAKER WHO WOULD NOT BE SILENCED

Every month, we will feature the story of a Christian business owner who faced real pressure and chose to stand. These are not abstract cases. These are your peers.

David Hartman has owned Hartman Sign and Graphics in suburban Columbus, Ohio, for 22 years. He employs 11 people, most of them from his church and surrounding community. His shop has done work for local churches, school booster clubs, real estate offices, and small manufacturers.

In March 2026, Hartman received a request to produce vinyl banners promoting a local Pride festival. He declined, politely, citing his faith convictions, and offered a referral to another sign shop. The customer filed a complaint with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

What came next was not a fine. It was a process.

Hartman spent four months responding to OCRC correspondence, submitting documentation, retaining legal counsel, and waiting. The investigation was ultimately closed without a finding of discrimination. Ohio’s religious exemption statute protected him.

But Hartman is clear about what the process cost him. “About 60 hours of my own time, thousands of dollars in legal fees, and six months of stress that my wife and I are still working through,” he said. “And I never did anything wrong.”

He is not bitter. He is resolved. “I had pastors and business owners reach out to me after word got out. That community kept me standing. But a lot of guys going through this feel completely alone. That is what has to change.”

Hartman is now connected with both the CEA and a local religious liberty legal organization. He has begun speaking at church business network events about what he experienced and what Christian business owners need to know before a complaint arrives.

He wants you to know one thing: “Get networked before you need it. The time to build those relationships is not when the letter shows up.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS MONTH

1. Take the Pledge. If you have not yet signed the Restoration Pledge, do it today. Every signature strengthens the count of Christian business owners who are publicly committed to faith-consistent business practice. Visit restorationstartshere.org.

2. Refer a fellow business owner. Share this newsletter with one Christian business owner in your network who needs to hear it. Use your personal referral link from the pledge confirmation email to track your impact.

3. Know your rights. Download our free guide at restorationstartshere.org/free-guide. It covers the seven threats every Christian business owner should understand and the concrete steps you can take to protect your business and your faith.

4. Get connected to CEA. Visit christianemployers.org and evaluate whether membership makes sense for your business. Legal protection before a complaint arrives is far cheaper than legal counsel after one does.

The Restoration Report publishes on the first of every month. If you received this from a friend and want to receive future editions directly, sign up at restorationstartshere.org.

Restoration Starts Here is a faith-and-civic mobilization campaign for Christian business owners. We are not a legal services organization. Nothing in this newsletter constitutes legal advice. For legal counsel, contact a licensed attorney familiar with religious freedom law.