Overview

• President Trump established the Religious Liberty Commission by executive order in May to advise the White House Faith Office on safeguarding America’s founding commitment to religious freedom.
• The inaugural meeting on June 16 in Washington explored the history of religious liberty and set the agenda for future hearings on education rights and constitutional protections.
• Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Dr. Ben Carson lead the 14-member panel, which includes Christian and Jewish leaders but lacks representation from several minority faith communities.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that the Department of Justice will support the commission’s efforts to defend religious liberty across the nation.
• The commission will hold additional sessions before delivering a report by July 4, 2026, covering topics such as parental rights in religious education and conscience protections, though critics question its ideological breadth.