WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, on the National Day of Prayer, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the Religious Liberty Commission to “safeguard” the nation’s founding principle of religious freedom. Faith leaders from across the nation flanked President Trump to witness the signing that now directs the federal government to “vigorously enforce” America’s historic protections for religious liberty already enshrined in federal law.

As the order notes, federal policies in recent years have threatened religious liberty in America. According to a White House fact sheet, these policies have undermined longstanding conscience protections, targeted peaceful Christians while ignoring violent, anti-Christian offenses, prevented parents from sending their children to religious schools, threatened the loss of funding or denial of non-profit tax status for faith-based organizations, and singled out religious groups and institutions for exclusion from governmental programs.  

However, the order states, the nation’s Founders envisioned “a vibrant public square and human flourishing” where people “are free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or hostility from the government.” 

The order reads, “The principle of religious liberty was enshrined in American law with the First Amendment to the Constitution in 1791.  Since that time, the Constitution has protected the fundamental right to religious liberty as Americans’ first freedom.” President Trump’s order continued, “Therefore, the Federal Government will promote citizens’ pride in our foundational history, identify emerging threats to religious liberty, uphold Federal laws that protect all citizens’ full participation in a pluralistic democracy, and protect the free exercise of religion.”

To accomplish this, the Religious Liberty Commission will be comprised of 14 “members from diverse religious and professional backgrounds, including clergy, legal experts, academics, and public advocates.” Specifically, the Commission is tasked to produce a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America. The report is to contain the following topics: 

• The impact of religious liberty on American society.
• The current threats to domestic religious liberty.
• Strategies to preserve and enhance religious liberty protections for future generations.

The report must also include details about:

• The First Amendment rights of pastors, religious leaders, houses of worship, faith-based institutions, and religious speakers.
• Attacks across America on houses of worship.
• Debanking of religious entities.
• The First Amendment rights of teachers, students, military chaplains, service members, employers, and employees.
• Conscience protections in the health care field and concerning vaccine mandates.
• Parents’ authority to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children, including the right to choose a religious education.
• Permitting time for voluntary prayer and religious instruction at public schools.
• Government displays with religious imagery; and the right of all Americans to freely exercise their faith without fear of Government censorship or retaliation. 

The Commission’s chairman will be Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and its vice chairman will be former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson. The other 12 Commission members will be: 

• Ryan Anderson, the president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center.
• Bishop Robert Barron, Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota.
• Carrie Prejean Boller, former Miss California, Miss USA runner-up, and author.
• Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Roman Catholic archbishop of New York.
• Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse.
• Allyson Ho, an attorney at Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher.
• Talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw.
• Eric Metaxas, bestselling author and syndicated talk show.
• Kelly Shackelford, president and CEO of First Liberty Institute.
• Rabbi Meir Soloveichik of Congregation Shearith Israel.
• Paula White, President Trump’s faith adviser.

The commission is allowed to appoint 40 other members to several advisory boards that will advise the Commission, such as boards for religious leaders, lay leaders, and legal experts. The Commission is set to terminate after delivering the report on or before July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of American Independence. 

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “The Religious Liberty Commission will help protect the rights of citizens and religious organizations to practice their faith without government interference. The Founders designed American government to be a shield to religious liberty and the federal government is taking steps to be that shield once again. America needs to be a beacon of religious liberty where people are free to live according to their faith.” 

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