On May 1, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the Religious Liberty Commission during the National Day of Prayer. This commission is tasked with investigating and promoting policies to protect religious freedom in the United States.
The commission is chaired by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, with former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson serving as vice chairman. Other members include religious leaders and public figures such as Pastor Franklin Graham, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and Dr. Phil McGraw.
The commission’s mandate includes reporting on threats to religious liberty, celebrating America’s religious pluralism, and recommending strategies to support peaceful religious coexistence. Commissioners will serve until July 4, 2026, unless their terms are extended.
Critics argue that the commission primarily serves conservative Christian interests, potentially blurring the lines between church and state. Concerns have been raised about the commission’s composition, which predominantly features evangelical leaders, and its potential to advance a Christian nationalist agenda.
In related developments, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue rulings that may further broaden religious rights. Cases under consideration include the establishment of a taxpayer-funded religious charter school in Oklahoma, requests by religious parents in Maryland to opt their children out of LGBT-themed curricula, and a Catholic diocese in Wisconsin seeking exemption from state unemployment insurance taxes. The Court’s conservative majority appears sympathetic to these religious claims, indicating a trend toward expanding the free exercise clause while limiting the establishment clause.
Additionally, a federal judge ruled in favor of the Trump administration, allowing immigration enforcement operations to proceed in houses of worship. This decision followed the administration’s reversal of a longstanding policy that designated religious institutions as “sensitive locations” exempt from immigration enforcement. Religious organizations argued that such enforcement infringes on their First Amendment rights and has led to decreased attendance, but the court found insufficient evidence that religious sites were being specifically targeted.
These developments reflect a shift in the balance between religious liberty and the separation of church and state. The establishment of the Religious Liberty Commission and forthcoming Supreme Court decisions suggest an increasing role for religion in public institutions. Critics express concern that these changes may erode the principle of church-state separation and undermine public safeguards like nondiscrimination policies.
The commission’s work is expected to continue through July 2026, with ongoing oversight and evaluation to ensure its alignment with constitutional principles and public interest.
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Julie Harris covers faith, family, and values-based policy. She holds a journalism degree from Hillsdale College and began her reporting career covering religious liberty cases at the state level. With a strong grounding in moral philosophy and cultural reporting, she brings depth and clarity to complex legislative debates surrounding life and faith.