Citing religious freedom, Trump backing off Obama-era rules

WASHINGTON (AP) — Leaders of social conservatives are expressing elation over President Donald Trump's decisions on two issues they see as tied to religious freedom.

Trump is allowing more employers to opt out of no-cost birth control for workers. His administration is also issuing sweeping religious-freedom directions that could override many anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people and others.

The president of the conservative Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, says the changes demonstrate the president's commitment to undoing the anti-faith policies of the Obama administration and restoring true religious freedom.

The changes have outraged liberal advocacy groups. The president of the National Women's Law Center, Fatima Goss Graves, says the administration is telling employers, "If you want to discriminate, we have your back."

Several groups are planning to challenge the birth-control rollback in court.