Press Releases

Religious Liberty Commission Delivers Report to President Trump in the Oval Office

Press Statement
For Immediate Release: 6.26.26
Contact: John Manning, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453

Religious Liberty Commission Delivers Report to President Trump in the Oval Office
The report details findings on the state of religious liberty in the U.S. with recommendations for protecting First Amendment rights.

Washington, D.C.—Today, the President’s Religious Liberty Commission delivered a draft of its final report with recommendations for protecting the right of all Americans to freely exercise their faith without fear or Government censorship or retaliation. Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO, and Chief Counsel at First Liberty and member of the Commission, who attended a White House meeting today to deliver the report, said:

We are delivering recommendations to improve religious freedom for all Americans nationwide, and we have a President of action. This is a great gift to every American, and it’s especially appropriate on the 250th birthday of our country.

After months of testimony from people in all areas of American life who have experienced discrimination for their religious beliefs and practices, the Commission presented the President with detailed recommendations for how the most fundamental freedom in the First Amendment can be protected. Testimonies were heard from school teachers, students, parents, military chaplains, service members, employees in the private sector, healthcare workers, and leaders of religious institutions who were subjected to harassment, obstruction, and intimidation for religious expression and the exercise of their religious beliefs.

The Commission’s many recommendations include:

• Issue guidance to ensure the Johnson Amendment is not applied to chill religious leaders’ First Amendment right to provide religious guidance to their communities.
• Create a hotline or online portal for students and teachers to report violations of religious liberty rights.
• Defend parental rights in government-run schools by issuing Department of Justice guidance on parental rights.
• Order the Department of War to streamline and improve the religious accommodation process.
• Protect religious healthcare workers from being coerced to participate in procedures that violate their religious beliefs.
• Swiftly and effectively respond to antisemitism.

The report concludes, “But as we have seen in recent decades, religious liberty must be protected, preserved, and cherished. That responsibility belongs to every generation. Our hope and prayer is that Americans will meet that responsibility with the same wisdom, courage, and devotion to freedom that have sustained our nation for 250 years.”

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About First Liberty Institute 

First Liberty Institute is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.

To arrange an interview, contact John Manning at media@firstliberty.org.