Trump Creates New Commission To Bolster Faith-Based Rights Nationwide

People sitting in church pews during service.

Former President Donald Trump has established a Religious Liberty Commission through executive order, creating a high-profile body aimed at protecting faith-based rights that will be led by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick with Dr. Ben Carson serving as vice chair.

Key Insights

The commission will address parental rights, conscience protections, attacks on houses of worship, free speech, and school choice
Attorney General Pamela Bondi is also leading a related “Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias” at the Department of Justice
The first task force meeting included testimonies from Christians who claim they were targeted by the Biden administration
Critics, including the Freedom From Religion Foundation, argue the initiative promotes Christian nationalism and undermines church-state separation

Commission Leadership and Purpose

The Religious Liberty Commission, established by executive order, will be headed by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick with former HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson serving as vice chair. The diverse commission membership includes clergy, legal experts, and religious liberty advocates from across the nation. According to administration statements, the commission will produce a comprehensive report examining both the foundations of religious liberty in America and current threats to these freedoms.

The commission will focus on multiple priority areas, including parental rights in education, conscience protections for believers, attacks on houses of worship, religious free speech, school choice, and institutional autonomy for faith-based organizations. This initiative follows Trump’s recent pardons of pro-life activists who had been prosecuted during the Biden administration for demonstrations at abortion facilities.

Justice Department Task Force Activity

In a parallel effort, Attorney General Pamela Bondi recently hosted the first meeting of the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias at the Department of Justice. This task force, established under Executive Order 14202, aims to identify and eliminate what the administration describes as anti-Christian bias within federal agencies including the DOJ, IRS, and FBI. The meeting featured testimonies from numerous individuals claiming religious discrimination under the previous administration.

“As shown by our victims’ stories today, Biden’s Department of Justice abused and targeted peaceful Christians while ignoring violent, anti-Christian offenses,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Thanks to President Trump, we have ended those abuses, and we will continue to work closely with every member of this Task Force to protect every American’s right to speak and worship freely.”

The task force meeting included testimony from a Navy SEAL who claimed he was relieved of duty for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds, educators who say they were suspended for their stance on gender identity education policies, and representatives from Christian universities facing regulatory challenges. FBI Director Kash Patel addressed concerns about an anti-Catholic memo and pledged to eliminate anti-Christian bias within the bureau.

Criticism and Defense of the Initiative

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a nonprofit organization with over 40,000 members advocating for church-state separation, has strongly criticized the initiative. The organization argues that the executive order represents an attempt to weaponize the Justice Department to enforce “Christian privilege” rather than protect legitimate religious liberty rights. They contend Christianity already enjoys significant advantages in American society.

“Christianity is not under attack in this country—if anything, it enjoys overwhelming privilege,” said FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor

The FFRF has announced plans to monitor the implementation of the executive order and challenge any actions they believe represent unconstitutional government favoritism toward Christianity. The organization emphasizes that the First Amendment protects against both religious persecution and religious favoritism by government entities.

In defending the initiatives, Trump has emphasized that his administration “will not tolerate anti-Christian weaponization of government” and will work to ensure that Christians can practice their faith without government interference. He specifically referenced the prosecution of pro-life activists under the Biden administration, including cases involving a Catholic priest, a 75-year-old grandmother, and an 87-year-old woman who were arrested after praying outside abortion facilities.