Following backlash from conservative lawmakers, the US Internal Revenue Services (IRS) has reversed its earlier decision to reject a tax-exemption request for a Texas-based Christian group, according to US media reports.

Soon after the IRS’ announcement, Christians Engaged, which describes itself as an “educational, Christian and non-partisan” group, hailed the decision to grant the group 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status as a victory “for every Christian organization around America that teaches the Bible and cares about the future of our great nation.”

Along with a press release, they tweeted: “We WON! IRS reverses decision! We are TAX EXEMPT! THANK YOU!”

Thanking the IRS, Bunni Pounds, president of the Christians Engaged, said, “We are incredibly thankful to the IRS for doing the right thing, and we look forward to continuing our mission of educating more followers of Jesus to pray for our nation and to be civically engaged.”

“When we stand up, our republic works for all Americans!”

In May, IRS director of exemption organisations, Stephen Martin, sent a letter to the group, alleging that it “engaged in prohibited political campaign intervention”, using bible teachings “typically affiliated with the Republican Party and candidates” to educate individuals on how to vote.

Following the initial decision to not grant Christians Engaged tax-exempt status prompted backlash from Republican lawmakers who called on the head of the IRS late last month to remove Martin.

In a letter to Commissioner Charles Rettig, Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy and 14 other congressional Republicans called Martin’s decision “blatantly biased, discriminatory, and flawed,” according to FOX News reports.

Following Wednesday’s decision, the office of Rep. Chip Roy issued a statement welcoming the reversal. However, he argued that the IRS staff responsible (Stephen Martin) for the initial decision must be “held to account and should be terminated.”

ALSO READ | All about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ streak of bill signing in 2021

Meanwhile, in the statement released by Christians Engaged, the organisation thanked Congressman Chip Roy, Senator Mike Lee, and Senator Ted Cruz, who wrote a letter to the IRS Commissioner. In their thank-you note, they also mentioned First Liberty Institute, a conservative Christian legal organization, who represented Christian Engaged in an appeal of the IRS’ decision.