Establishment of the Religious Liberty Commission
This Executive Order creates a temporary Religious Liberty Commission within the Executive Branch to study, promote, and advise on protecting religious freedom in the United States. The Commission (up to 14 presidential appointees plus three ex officio federal officials) must produce a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty, current threats, and recommendations for preserving and expanding protections. It will advise the White House Faith Office and the Domestic Policy Council and may recommend executive or legislative steps to safeguard religious liberty. The order directs the Department of Justice to provide funding and administrative support as allowed by law, sets the Commission to terminate on July 4, 2026 (unless extended), and clarifies that it creates no enforceable legal rights. It also creates three advisory boards (religious leaders, lay leaders, and legal experts) to guide the Commission’s work.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and purpose: Creates the Religious Liberty Commission to identify threats to religious freedom, celebrate religious pluralism, and recommend policies to preserve religious liberty in the U.S.
- 2Composition and leadership: Up to 14 President-appointed members (with a President-designated Chair and Vice Chair) plus ex officio members: the Attorney General, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. Members serve without pay; travel expenses may be reimbursed where allowed by law.
- 3Timeframe and termination: The Commission’s initial term ends on July 4, 2026 (the 250th anniversary of Independence). The President may extend the Commission and reappoint members for two-year terms.
- 4Duties and report topics: The Commission must produce a comprehensive report covering topics such as First Amendment protections for religious leaders and institutions, attacks on houses of worship, “debanking” of religious entities, rights of teachers/students/military chaplains, conscience protections in health care (including vaccine mandates), parents’ authority over education and religious schooling, prayer and religious instruction in public schools, government displays with religious imagery, and broader protections against government censorship or retaliation.
- 5Advisory structure and legal/administrative support: The President will appoint three advisory boards (religious leaders, lay leaders, legal experts). The Department of Justice will provide funding and administrative/technical support as authorized by law. The Executive Order addresses the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) by assigning many of the President’s FACA functions to the Attorney General, subject to GSA guidelines.