The US Department of Justice has created a “religious liberty task force” to help implement the Trump administration’s new religious guidance.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions warned that the country had become "less hospitable to people of faith” as he announced its formation at a Justice Department Religious Liberty Summit.

"A dangerous movement, undetected by many, is now challenging and eroding our great tradition of religious freedom,” he said. “There can be no doubt. This is no little matter. It must be confronted and defeated."

He added that it would help Justice Department officials uphold new religious liberty guidance in the cases they bring, the arguments they make in court and the policies they adopt.

Issued in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order last year, the guidelines prohibited the government from punishing anyone who acted “in accordance with one’s religious beliefs”.

Advocates warned at the time that these stringent protections could become a “license to discriminate” against LGBTQ people.

The task force will be co-chaired by Assistant Attorney General Beth Williams and acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. Mr Panuccio previously represented supporters of a failed attempt to ban same-sex marriage in California.

Responding to the task force’s formation, the Human Rights Campaign criticised Mr Sessions and the White House for “sanctioning discrimination against LGBTQ people”.

Jeff Sessions says US border control detention centers not comparable to Nazi concentration camps: 'Jews were trying to leave the country'

It also accused Mr Sessions of standing “shoulder-to-shoulder with anti-LGBTQ extremists,” in what was likely a reference to the Alliance Defending Freedom – an anti-LGBTQ organisation that backed the summit.

The advocacy group's legal director Sarah Warbelow said: “Over the last 18 months, Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Jeff Sessions have engaged in a brazen campaign to erode and limit the rights of LGBTQ people in the name of religion."

In his speech, Mr Sessions highlighted the “plight” of Jack Phillips, a conservative Christian baker who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding because of his religious beliefs.

The US Supreme Court ruled last month that he could not be forced to bake the cake.

Mr Sessions also alluded to an Obama-era policy that required employers to include contraceptive coverage in their employee health care plans.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

The attorney general said that the US had "seen nuns ordered to buy contraceptives”. The Trump administration has exempted religious groups from the contraceptive coverage requirement.

Women’s rights groups like Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-choice America also criticised the guidelines and task force.