As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, debates about religious freedom continue to occupy the center of American public life.
Since taking office for a second time, the Trump administration has issued a number of executive orders on religion that raise new questions about religious freedom. On May 1, 2025, the administration established the Religious Liberty Commission. The commission will advise the White House on policies intended to protect the free exercise of religion and to prevent discrimination against people of faith by the federal government.
kAm%96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 92D 2=D@ :DDF65 6I64FE:G6 @C56CD E@ “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7656C2=C68:DE6C]8@G^5@4F>6?ED^a_ad^_a^`a^a_ad\_ae``^6C25:42E:?8\2?E:\49C:DE:2?\3:2DQm6C25:42E6 2?E:\r9C:DE:2? 3:2Dk^2m” 2?5 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]66@4]8@G^C6=:8:@FD\5:D4C:>:?2E:@?Qm3C@256? AC@E64E:@?D 282:?DE C6=:8:@FD 5:D4C:>:?2E:@?k^2m 24C@DD 7656C2= 286?4:6D]k^Am
kAm$@>6 D49@=2CD 2C8F6 E92E E96D6 24E:@?D D:8?2= 2 3C@25 677@CE E@ C6D92A6 9@H k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3C@@<:?8D]65F^6G6?ED^72:E9\2?5\7C665@>\C6G:6H:?8\E96\ECF>A\25>:?:DEC2E:@?D\6I64FE:G6\24E:@?D\@?\C6=:8:@?^QmC6=:8:@FD 7C665@> :D :?E6CAC6E65 2?5 AC24E:465k^2m[ H:E9 2 AC@?@F?465 6>A92D:D @? 72G@C:?8 r9C:DE:2?:EJ]k^Am
kAms632E6D @G6C C6=:8:@? :? AF3=:4 =:76 2C6 ?@E ?6H] pD 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5:G:?:EJ]H7F]65F^24256>:4D^724F=EJ^4@C6J\5\3\H2=<6C^QmD49@=2C @7 C6=:8:@FD 7C665@>k^2m[ x 92G6 =@?8 366? :?E6C6DE65 :? 9@H E96 62C=J 5632E6D 23@FE C6=:8:@FD 7C665@> 2E E96 ?2E:@?’D 7@F?5:?8 42? 96=A A6@A=6 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5 E96 AC6D6?E >@>6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 62C=J 4@CC6DA@?56?46 @7 y2>6D |25:D@? – H9@ H6?E @? E@ 364@>6 E96 7@FCE9 &]$ AC6D:56?E 2?5 A=2J65 2 <6J C@=6 :? E96 5C27E:?8 @7 E96 r@?DE:EFE:@? 2?5 q:== @7 #:89ED – HC6DE=6D H:E9 E96 E6?D:@?D @7 C6=:8:@? 2?5 AF3=:4 =:76] xE 42? 36 :?DECF4E:G6 7@C p>6C:42?D E@52J]k^Am
k9amp D@4:6EJ :? 7=FIk^9am
kAm{@?8 367@C6 E96 u:CDE p>6?5>6?E 6?D9C:?65 E96 C:89E @7 C6=:8:@FD 7C665@>[ C6=:8:@? H2D 2 DF3;64E @7 :?E6?D6 4@?7=:4E]k^Am
kAm%96 s64=2C2E:@? @7 x?56A6?56?46 :?G@<6D v@5 :? A9C2D6D DF49 2D “}2EFC6’D v@5[” “rC62E@C” 2?5 “5:G:?6 !C@G:56?46]” qFE E96D6 H@C5D 5:5 ?@E D6EE=6 92C5 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE C6=:8:@? :? AF3=:4 =:76] %96 5:DAFE6D 4@?E:?F65 2?5 D92A65 5632E6D 23@FE C6=:8:@FD 7C665@>]k^Am
kAm|25:D@? DA6?E >F49 @7 9:D =:76 6?828:?8 E96D6 :>A@CE2?E :DDF6D]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQq=24<\2?5\H9:E6 D<6E49 @7 2 =2C86 4@=@?:2=\6C2 >2?D:@? H:E9 4@=F>?D 2?5 2 3C@25 A@C49 2?5 2 =2C86 EC66 :? E96 7@C68C@F?5]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^f`haad^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_a`h\de\;:2>Bc];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?mtIE6C:@C G:6H @7 |@?EA6=:6C[ E96 9@>6 @7 !C6D:56?E y2>6D |25:D@?[ :? ~C2?86[ '2][ :? E96 62C=J `g__D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^?6HD\A9@E@^6IE6C:@C\G:6H\@7\>@?EA:=:6C\E96\9@>6\@7\2>6C:42?\AC6D:56?E\?6HD\A9@E@^baab_gan25AA@AFAlECF6Qmz62? r@==64E:@?^v6EEJ x>286Dk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmr@=@?:2= ':C8:?:2 H2D 2 9@E365 @7 4@?7=:4E @G6C E96 2FE9@C:EJ @7 E96 r9FC49 @7 t?8=2?5] x? E96 564256D 367@C6 E96 p>6C:42? #6G@=FE:@?[ 5:DD6?E:?8 C6=:8:@FD 8C@FAD H6C6 AF?:D965 3J r@=@?:2= 2FE9@C:E:6D 7@C AC24E:4:?8 E96:C 72:E9] q2AE:DE 2?5 !C6D3JE6C:2? AC62496CD H6C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^F?4@>>@?H62=E9]=G2]G:C8:?:2]8@G^3=@8^a_aa^_h^a`^E92E\E96\@AAC6DD65\>2J\8@\7C66\2\A6E:E:@?\E@\E96\G:C8:?:2\86?6C2=\2DD6>3=J\7@C\C6=:8:@FD\7C665@>^Qm7:?65 2?5 ;2:=65 3J =@42= 2FE9@C:E:6D 7@C AC6249:?8 H:E9@FE =:46?D6Dk^2m] $@>6 H6C6 :>AC:D@?65 ?62C E96 |25:D@? 72>:=J A=2?E2E:@? 2E |@?EA6=:6C]k^Am
kAm%96 C6=:8:@FD :?E@=6C2?46 :? ':C8:?:2 =67E 2 566A :>AC6DD:@? @? |25:D@?] xE 96:89E6?65 9:D 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 52?86CD @7 C6=:8:@FD 2FE9@C:EJ 2==:65 H:E9 DE2E6 A@H6C]k^Am
kAmw6 D92C65 9:D 4@?46C?D H:E9 9:D 7C:6?5 2?5 7FEFC6 &]$] pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];FDE:46]8@G^28^3:@^3C257@C5\H:==:2>Qm(:==:2> qC257@C5k^2m[ H9@> 96 >6E 5FC:?8 9:D J62CD 2E E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^F?:G6CD:EJ2C49:G6D]AC:?46E@?]65F^a_`d^_f^H96?\5:5\E96\4@==686\@7\?6H\;6CD6J\492?86\E@\AC:?46E@?\F?:G6CD:EJ^Qmr@==686 @7 }6H y6CD6J[ ?@H !C:?46E@? &?:G6CD:EJk^2m]k^Am
kAmx? 2 `ffb =6EE6C E@ 9:D “s62C q:==6J[” |25:D@? A@D65 2 4C:E:42= BF6DE:@? 2D qC257@C5 3682? 9:D =682= DEF5:6D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@F?56CD]2C49:G6D]8@G^nBl#64:A:6?ETbpTaaqC257@C5TarTa_(:==:2>TaaU2>AjDl````b`````U2>AjCleQmw6 2D<65k^2m[ “xD 2? t44=6D:2DE:42= tDE23=:D9>6?E 23D@=FE6=J ?646DD2CJ E@ DFAA@CE 4:G:= D@4:6EJ :? 2 DFAC62> v@G6C?>6?En U2>Aj 9@H 72C :E :D 9FCE7F= E@ 2 56A6?52?E $E2E6n” $:>A=J AFE[ |25:D@? H2D 2D<:?8 H96E96C 8@G6C?>6?E\2FE9@C:K65 C6=:8:@? DEC6?8E96?D D@4:6EJ @C E9C62E6?D :E]k^Am
kAm|25:D@? 2=D@ 4@?56>?65 E96 ;2:=:?8 @7 5:DD6?E:?8 AC62496CD 3J r@=@?:2= 2FE9@C:E:6D] %96D6 24E:@?D[ 96 HC@E6[ C67=64E65 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@F?56CD]2C49:G6D]8@G^5@4F>6?ED^|25:D@?^_`\_`\_a\__ahQmE92E 5:23@=:42= w6== 4@?46:G65 AC:?4:A=6 @7 A6CD64FE:@?k^2m]” u@C |25:D@?[ DF49 A6CD64FE:@? H2D 3=2E2?E=J F?;FDE] xE 52>2865 C6=:8:@? 2?5 4:G:= D@4:6EJ] |25:D@? 762C65 6DE23=:D965 C6=:8:@? 3642FD6 :E E9C62E6?65 A6CD@?2= 4@?D4:6?46 2?5 A@=:E:42= =:36CEJ]k^Am
kAm}62C E96 6?5 @7 9:D =6EE6C[ |25:D@? 2D<65 qC257@C5 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@F?56CD]2C49:G6D]8@G^nBl#64:A:6?ETbpTaaqC257@C5TarTa_(:==:2>TaaU2>AjDl````b`````U2>AjClfQmE@ A:EJ >6 2?5 AC2J 7@C {:36CEJ @7 r@?D4:6?46k^2m]” %9:D =:?6 C67=64ED 9:D 8C@H:?8 36=:67 E92E 72:E9 D9@F=5 36 8F:565 3J A6CD@?2= 4@?G:4E:@?[ ?@E A@=:E:42= A@H6C]k^Am
k9am%96 A6@A=6 2?5 C6=:8:@FD 7C665@>k^9am
kAm%96D6 6IA6C:6?46D D92A65 |25:D@?’D @AA@D:E:@? E@ 2? @77:4:2= DE2E6 C6=:8:@? 2?5 9:D 5676?D6 @7 E96 7C66 6I6C4:D6 @7 C6=:8:@?] u@C |25:D@?[ C6=:8:@? 4@F=5 7=@FC:D9 @?=J F?56C 4@?5:E:@?D @7 7C665@>[ ?@E 4@>AF=D:@?]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQp DE2E6=J >2? :? 2 H9:E6 H:8[ 3=24< H2:DE4@2E 2?5 <?66 3C66496D D:ED 4C@DD\=68865 36D:56 2 H@@56? D:56 E23=6]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^f`geh`^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_a`f\de\Hf86Gb];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m!9@E@ @7 2? @C:8:?2= 6?8C2G:?8 @7 y2>6D |25:D@? 7C@> E96 ‘}2E:@?2= !@CEC2:E v2==6CJ @7 t>:?6?E p>6C:42?D’ AF3=:D965 :? `gea] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^:==FDEC2E:@?^;2>6D\>25:D@?\cE9\FD\AC6D:56?E\C@J2=EJ\7C66\:==FDEC2E:@?^dc_fa``egnA9C2D6l;2>6DTa_>25:D@?Ta_HC:E:?8DU2>AjD62C49D4@A6l:>286[7:=>U2>Aj25AA@AFAlECF6Qm>2D9F<^s:8:E2=':D:@? '64E@CD G:2 v6EEJ x>286Dk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmp=E9@F89 :?:E:2==J D<6AE:42= 23@FE 255:?8 2 q:== @7 #:89ED E@ E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?[ |25:D@? 6G6?EF2==J DFAA@CE65 E96D6 2>6?5>6?ED[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@?DE:EFE:@?46?E6C]@C8^3=@8^@?\E9:D\52J\;2>6D\>25:D@?\:?EC@5F46D\E96\3:==\@7\C:89EDQm:?4=F5:?8 E96 u:CDE p>6?5>6?Ek^2m] xE 368:?D H:E9 AC@9:3:E:?8 E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E E@ D2?4E:@? 2?J @77:4:2= C6=:8:@?i “r@?8C6DD D92== >2<6 ?@ =2H C6DA64E:?8 2? 6DE23=:D9>6?E @7 C6=:8:@?[ @C AC@9:3:E:?8 E96 7C66 6I6C4:D6 E96C6@7 …”k^Am
kAmu@C |25:D@?[ AC@9:3:E:?8 r@?8C6DD 7C@> 6DE23=:D9:?8 C6=:8:@? 2?5 AC@E64E:?8 E96 7C66 6I6C4:D6 @7 C6=:8:@? H6C6 ?@E 23DEC24E :562=D] %96J H6C6 C6DA@?D6D E@ E96 @AAC6DD:@? @7 C6=:8:@FD >:?@C:E:6D 96 H:E?6DD65 :? ':C8:?:2]k^Am
kAmqFE |25:D@? C62=:K65 E92E HC:EE6? 8F2C2?E66D H6C6 ?@E 6?@F89] $F49 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2G2=@?]=2H]J2=6]65F^`gE9046?EFCJ^765cg]2DAQmA2C49>6?E 32CC:6CDk^2m[” 2D 96 C676CC65 E@ 564=2C2E:@?D =:<6 E96 q:== @7 #:89ED[ H6C6 ?646DD2CJ 3FE ?@E DF77:4:6?E E@ 8F2C5 282:?DE A@=:E:42= 6I46DD]k^Am
kAmx? “u656C2=:DE }@] `_[” A2CE @7 2 D6C:6D @7 6DD2JD HC:EE6? E@ DFAA@CE E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?[ |25:D@? H2C?65 23@FE E96 52?86CD @7 724E:@?D 2?5 :?E@=6C2?46] p 5@>:?2?E C6=:8:@FD 8C@FA 4@F=5 >2C8:?2=:K6 @E96CD] p “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2G2=@?]=2H]J2=6]65F^`gE9046?EFCJ^765`_]2DAQmC6=:8:@FD D64E >2J 5686?6C2E6 :?E@ 2 A@=:E:42= 724E:@?k^2m[” 96 H2C?65] x? 9:D G:6H[ 2 C6=:8:@FD 724E:@? H:E9 A@=:E:42= A@H6C 42? 4C62E6 2 A@=:E:42= EJC2??J[ 6DA64:2==J H96? :E 4=2:>D E@ 24E :? v@5’D ?2>6]k^Am
kAm|25:D@? F?56CDE@@5 E92E C6=:8:@FD 7C665@> 5:5 ?@E >62? AC@E64E:?8 @?6 72:E9 282:?DE @E96CD] #6=:8:@FD 7C665@> :D 36DE D64FC65 :? 2 ?2E:@? E92E C6DA64ED C6=:8:@FD 5:G6CD:EJ :? 2== @7 :ED G2C:6EJ[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 C:89E E@ ?@ C6=:8:@? 2E 2==] %96 A@:?E H2D ?@E E@ AC:G:=686 2?J EC25:E:@? 3FE E@ AC@E64E 2== EC25:E:@?D]k^Am
k9am|25:D@? 2?5 @FC >@>6?Ek^9am
kAm|25:D@?’D G:D:@? :D :?DECF4E:G6 :? E9:D >@>6?E H96? 5632E6D @? C6=:8:@FD 7C665@> @7E6? 46?E6C @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A3D]@C8^?6HD9@FC^A@=:E:4D^ECF>A\6?6C8:K6D\4@?D6CG2E:G6\49C:DE:2?D\H:E9\C6=:8:@FD\A@=:4:6D\2?5\2DD2F=ED\@?\4F=EFC2=\E2C86EDQmr9C:DE:2?:EJ[ 6DA64:2==J :? 5:DAFE6D @G6C 65F42E:@?[ C:89ED 2?5 5:D4C:>:?2E:@?k^2m]k^Am
kAmu@C |25:D@?[ C6=:8:@FD 7C665@> H2D ?@E 23@FE A@=:E:42= 5@>:?2E:@?] xE D6CG65 2D 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2==J 7@C E96 7@F?52E:@?2= AC:?4:A=6 @7 =:36CEJ 2?5 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>@?EA6=:6C]@C8^C6=:8:@FD\7C665@>^QmD2768F2C5 7@C 56>@4C24Jk^2m]k^Am
kAm#6EFC?:?8 E@ |25:D@? :D ?@E 2? 6I6C4:D6 :? ?@DE2=8:2] xE :D 2 4:G:4 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ]k^Am
kAmw:D =6824J C6>:?5D p>6C:42?D E92E C6=:8:@FD 7C665@> :D ?@E 23@FE A@H6C @C AC:G:=686] #6=:8:@FD 7C665@> 277:C>D 2 3C@256C 2?5 566A6C G:D:@? @7 p>6C:42? 56>@4C24J H96C6 2== 36=:67D[ 2?5 ?@?6[ 42? 4@6I:DE :? 2 5:G6CD6 2?5 6G@=G:?8 D@4:6EJ]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afah_hQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^4@C6J\5\3\H2=<6C\ehhg_hnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afah_hQmr@C6J s] q] (2=<6Ck^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^H2<6\7@C6DE\F?:G6CD:EJ\`f_hnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afah_hQm(2<6 u@C6DE &?:G6CD:EJk^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^2FDEC2=:2\42?E\62D:=J\C65F46\:ED\>:=:E2CJ\56A6?56?46\@?\E96\FD\3FE\H:E9\42?252\H6\42?\>:E:82E6\C:D<\afedagnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afah_hQmpFDEC2=:2 42?’E 62D:=J C65F46 :ED >:=:E2CJ 56A6?56?46 @? E96 &$[ 3FE H:E9 r2?252[ H6 42? >:E:82E6 C:D<k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^=272J6EE6\96=A65\2>6C:42?D\EFC?\E96\E:56\:?\E96:C\7:89E\7@C\:?56A6?56?46\2?5\d_\J62CD\=2E6C\96\96=A65\7@C86\E96\8C@H:?8\?2E:@?D\D6?D6\@7\:56?E:EJ\achcddnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afah_hQm{272J6EE6 96=A65 p>6C:42?D EFC? E96 E:56 :? E96:C 7:89E 7@C :?56A6?56?46 – 2?5 d_ J62CD =2E6C[ 96 96=A65 7@C86 E96 8C@H:?8 ?2E:@?’D D6?D6 @7 :56?E:EJk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^86@C86\H2D9:?8E@?D\H@CC:6D\2C6\4@>:?8\ECF6\aebac_nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afah_hQmv6@C86 (2D9:?8E@?’D H@CC:6D 2C6 4@>:?8 ECF6k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?mr@C6J s] q] (2=<6C 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^afah_h^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
