The Justice Department says that California's facial hair ban for prison guards is religious discrimination

Feds say California's facial hair ban for prison guards amounts to religious discrimination. The federal government is asking a court to halt California's enforcement of a rule requiring prison guards be clean-shaven. The government says the rule amounts to a form of religious discrimination against them.

The DOJ filed a civil rights complaint on Monday asking that California halt the prohibition of facial hair for prison guards. California's facial hair ban amounts to religious discrimination, DOJ says. The DOJ says it amounts to a violation of freedom of expression in the state of religion. The state's prison guards are required to have facial hair in order to be uniformed.

Feds say California's facial hair ban for prison guards amounts to religious discrimination. Sikhs, Muslims and others who wear beards as an expression of their faith say it's religious. The federal government is asking a court to halt California’s enforcement of a rule requiring guards be clean-shaven.