
President Trump has officially launched a landmark Religious Liberty Commission to restore America’s spiritual heritage, signaling a decisive shift in federal policy after years of what many conservatives view as hostility toward faith-based values by previous administrations.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump established the Religious Liberty Commission through executive order, appointing Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as chair and Dr. Ben Carson as vice-chair.
- The commission will investigate threats to religious freedom and develop strategies to protect faith communities, with its work scheduled to conclude by July 4, 2026.
- Notable commission members include Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Pastor Franklin Graham, Eric Metaxas, and television personality Dr. Phil McGraw.
- The White House has simultaneously ordered the Justice Department to create a task force specifically addressing anti-Christian bias.
- Two-thirds of white evangelicals believe Christians face discrimination in America, according to the Public Religion Research Institute.
Restoring America’s First Freedom
The newly formed Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty represents a significant step in fulfilling Trump’s campaign promise to protect people of faith. The executive order, signed during a National Day of Prayer event at the White House, establishes a commission tasked with examining the history of religious liberty in America, identifying current threats, and recommending strategies to strengthen protections for religious Americans. This initiative comes at a time when many conservatives believe traditional religious values have been increasingly marginalized in public life.
“It shall be the policy of the executive branch to vigorously enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal law,” states the executive order, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to protecting faith communities from government overreach and discrimination. The order further acknowledges that “The Founders envisioned a Nation in which religious voices and views are integral to a vibrant public square and human flourishing and in which religious people and institutions are free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or hostility from the Government.”
**Establishment of the Religious Liberty Commission**
On May 1, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to establish the Religious Liberty Commission. This commission will serve as a vital tool in protecting religious freedom in America, which has been under…
— executiveordersx (@execorderstrump) May 1, 2025
Leadership and Composition
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick will chair the commission, with former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson serving as vice-chair. The commission includes a diverse array of religious leaders and advocates, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Pastor Franklin Graham, and First Liberty Institute CEO Kelly Shackelford. Television personality Dr. Phil McGraw was also named to the commission, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to including voices with broad cultural influence.
“For too long, government officials have been hostile to expressions of faith… It will be a privilege to do everything we can to protect religious liberty and restore our First Freedom for all Americans,” said Kelly Shackelford, whose organization has been at the forefront of numerous religious liberty cases nationwide.
Lieutenant Governor Patrick expressed gratitude for his appointment, stating: We will carry out the president’s important mission to preserve and strengthen religious liberty in our country. I thank President Trump for his steadfast commitment to ensuring our nation returns to our founding principles of faith and religious liberty. Patrick’s leadership signals the administration’s serious intent to produce meaningful recommendations that can guide policy decisions regarding religious freedom.
Scope and Objectives
The commission’s mandate is extensive, covering issues ranging from First Amendment protections to parental rights in religious education. Key areas of focus include religious conscience objections to vaccine mandates, voluntary prayer in public schools, and ensuring equal treatment of religious organizations by government agencies. The commission will also explore how to protect religious Americans from being forced to compromise their deeply held convictions while participating in civic life and employment.
We’re bringing religion back to our country. It’s a big deal, President Trump declared during the signing ceremony, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to faith communities.
While the commission has received strong support from religious conservatives, some critics have expressed concerns about its potential impact. Rev. Shannon Fleck, executive director of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, argued that this new commission will do more to increase bullying in schools, workplace conflict, and religious discrimination than it will to protect our constitutional rights or our churches. Such criticism highlights the polarized nature of discussions around religious liberty in contemporary American politics.
Historical Context
The Religious Liberty Commission builds upon previous presidential initiatives addressing faith in American life. During the 1940s, President Franklin Roosevelt expanded military chaplaincy programs, stating that clergy were doing work “absolutely essential to the life of the nation.” In 1998, President Clinton established the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, while President George W. Bush created the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in 2001, later expanded under President Obama.
In his previous term, Trump established the Department of Justice Religious Liberty Task Force in 2018, demonstrating his long-standing commitment to these issues. The new commission represents an expansion of these efforts, with a more comprehensive mandate and higher-profile membership. The commission is scheduled to deliver its findings and recommendations by July 4, 2026—the 250th anniversary of American independence—unless its tenure is extended by presidential order.
The establishment of this commission comes at a time when polling from the Public Religion Research Institute indicates that two-thirds of white evangelical Protestants believe Christians face discrimination in the United States, providing statistical weight to concerns that have motivated the administration’s actions. With evangelicals forming a significant portion of Trump’s political base, the commission’s work carries both policy and political significance in today’s divided America.