President Trump Signs Executive Order Creating Religious Liberty Commission
Commission will recommend ways to protect, promote religious freedoms
President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order on Thursday, May 1 establishing the Religious Liberty Commission. The Commission is a new federal advisory body tasked with identifying threats to religious freedom and recommending ways to protect and promote the free exercise of religion across the United States.
The EO reaffirms the long-standing American tradition of religious liberty and outlines a broad set of policies aimed at protecting faith-based institutions and individuals from government discrimination or exclusion.
“It shall be the policy of the executive branch to vigorously enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal law,” the Order states. Citing the Founders’ vision of a “vibrant public square” where religious voices are welcomed, the order emphasizes religion’s foundational role in American society and law, dating back to the First Amendment in 1791.
Trump’s order follows up on his earlier 2017 directive, Executive Order 13798 (Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty), and references a subsequent memorandum from the Attorney General, “Federal Law Protections for Religious Liberty” (Oct. 6, 2017). It also notes recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have expanded protections for religious expression in public life.
The new Religious Liberty Commission will be made up of up to 14 Presidentially-appointed members drawn from various sectors, including education, business, and faith communities. Three senior federal officials — the Attorney General, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy — will serve as ex officio members.
The Commission’s primary task is to produce a report by July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of American independence. The report will cover foundational aspects of religious liberty, emerging threats, and policy recommendations to safeguard freedom of belief and worship. Topics to be addressed include:
- Rights of pastors, faith leaders, and religious institutions
- Violence and threats against houses of worship
- Financial discrimination against religious organizations
- Religious expression rights in public schools and the military
- Parental rights in education, including religious schooling
- Conscience protections in healthcare and vaccine mandates
Advisory boards will support the Commission’s work. These include panels of religious leaders, lay representatives from congregations, and legal experts, including the U.S. Attorney General or a designated representative.
President Trump invoked President Ronald Reagan’s famous warning that “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction,” stating that Americans must be “reacquainted with our Nation’s superb experiment in religious freedom.”
The Commission is expected to work closely with the White House Faith Office and the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom to align domestic and international efforts.
Commission members will serve without pay and may be reimbursed for travel and related expenses. The Department of Justice will provide administrative and financial support.
The full text of the EO is available on the White House website HERE.
