If you read the article up to the point where they describe the actual decision, it's quite different from the breathless outrage at the top. The reasoning is:

- In order to receive federal funds, state correctional institutions need to agree to certain standards, including the religious liberty protections.

- This agreement is between the federal government and the state institution; the prison guards and officials, in their personal capacity, never agreed to it.

- Therefore, the officials cannot be held liable in their personal capacity for violating the agreement.

- Notably, none of this shields the Louisiana Department of Corrections as an institution from legal liability.

The actual opinion: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/23-1197_h3ci.pdf

Yep. Nor does it prevent states from passing laws putting individual liability on guards who so flagrantly violate inmate rights. It's just not something that the Feds can do.