President Donald Trump signed an executive order on May 1, 2025, creating a Religious Liberty Commission during a White House Rose Garden ceremony for the National Day of Prayer. The commission, charged with producing a report on religious liberty and advising on policy, garnered support from allies and skepticism from some faith leaders, with its future actions yet to be specified.
The 14-member commission, chaired by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, includes former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, TV host Phil McGraw, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, White House faith adviser Paula White, evangelist Franklin Graham, and Bishop Robert Barron. The executive order mandates a report by July 4, 2026, unless extended, assessing religious liberty’s foundations, societal impact, threats, and strategies for pluralism. Focus areas include First Amendment rights for religious leaders, conscience protections (e.g., vaccine mandates), parental rights in religious education, school choice, attacks on houses of worship, and voluntary public school prayer. The commission will advise the White House Faith Office and Domestic Policy Council on policy, including potential executive or legislative actions, though no specific plans for Trump’s response—such as new orders or congressional requests—were detailed.
Trump, crediting Patrick for the idea, emphasized countering threats to faith. “Americans need to be reacquainted with our Nation’s superb experiment in religious freedom,” the order stated, citing policies undermining First Amendment protections. Patrick said, “No one should get between God and a believer,” alleging Biden-era attacks on faith. McGraw added, “I can’t tell you how proud I am to see religion coming back to the White House.” White, leading a prayer, called it a “spiritual reset” against government “weaponization” of faith issues.
The ceremony, with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders, included prayers by White and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Trump questioned church-state separation, saying, “Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I’m not sure,” and claimed, “People of faith have never been allowed in the White House.” He cited John Adams’s 1775 prayer call and Billy Graham’s 1952 push for the National Day of Prayer. Three advisory boards—religious leaders, lay leaders, and legal experts—will support the commission, per the executive order, with the Justice Department providing funding.
Critics raised concerns. Shannon Fleck of Faithful America stated, “This new commission will do more to increase bullying in schools, workplace conflict and religious discrimination.” Bishop Dwayne Royster of Faith in Action called it a tool for “fear or domination.” Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio had criticized Trump’s immigration policies as “deeply troubling.” Other leaders, including Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, warned the commission could favor one Christian tradition or mask white supremacy.
Luke Saint, president of Future of Christendom and author of The Sound Doctrine of Theocracy, told The Lancaster Patriot that he supports applying the Bible to the civil sphere but harbors doubts about government commissions for religious liberty. “Every new government department, whether federal, state, or local, eventually tyrannizes those it was created to serve,” Saint said. “From the IRS to the FDA to the ATF, no agency has aged well. All now use their power to subjugate the groups they swore to protect. The Religious Liberty Commission, given time, will likely follow suit.”
The commission joins Trump’s faith initiatives, including a White House Faith Office and an Anti-Christian Bias Task Force. White noted 1,000 faith leaders visited since January for events like an iftar dinner. Supporters like Ryan T. Anderson expressed gratitude, while critics cited declining organized religion among U.S. adults, per surveys, as a contrasting trend.
