by Todd Winking • 3 minutes
One year from now—on July 4, 2026—we’ll be celebrating something truly big and beautiful: the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding.
Alongside this historic milestone, a new chapter may be written for religious liberty in America—what could become the historic re-birth of its First Freedom—the foundational right upon which all of our other rights and freedoms depend.
In other words, the celebration of America’s past—and its future—will be bigger, brighter and bolder, than ever before.
A Defining Mission
Established by executive order from President Trump on May 1 (The National Day of Prayer), the Religious Liberty Commission is tasked with assessing the current state of religious freedom and offering recommendations to preserve and strengthen it for future generations.
Chaired by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, with Dr. Ben Carson serving as vice chair, the commission includes pastors, legal scholars, public officials and faith leaders.
First Liberty President and CEO Kelly Shackelford serves as one of the Commissioners, offering three decades of legal expertise. The organization has nine victories (and zero losses) at the U.S. Supreme Court. As one of the nation’s foremost authorities on religious liberty, he delivers real-world constitutional insight and strategic guidance.
The Commission has two core objectives:
1) Provide a comprehensive report to the President— not Congress—on the current state of religious liberty in the United States.
2) Provide policy recommendations and actionable strategies to reaffirm and protect religious freedom as the cornerstone of American life.
A Three-Phase Timeline:
Phase 1 (Summer/Fall 2025): Collecting Testimonies and Legal Case Studies
Phase 2: (Winter 2026) Engaging stakeholders across faith and legal communities
Phase 3: (Spring 2026) Finalizing the report and preparing recommendations
The final report is expected to be delivered on or before July 4, 2026, offering what some are calling a defining gift to America for her 250th.
Making Religious Liberty Gre8t Again
Over the next year, the commission will focus on eight critical battlefronts where religious liberty is currently under pressure, a great start:
1. Parental Rights in Religious Education: Examine the authority of parents to direct the care, upbringing and education of their children, including the right to choose religious education.
2. School Choice: Examining policies that support parents’ freedom and ability to select private, faith-based, public charter schools for their children.
3. Conscience Protections: Investigating protections for individuals and entities, particularly in healthcare and regarding vaccine mandates, to ensure they can act in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs without government interference.
4. Attacks on Houses of Worship: Addressing incidents of violence or discrimination targeting religious institutions across various faiths.
5. Free Speech for Religious Entities: Evaluating the First Amendment rights of pastors, religious leaders, faith-based organizations, teachers, students, military chaplains, service members, employers to freely express their deeply held religious views and beliefs.
6. Institutional Autonomy: Assessing the ability of religious organizations to operate independently without government interference, including issues relating to non-profit tax status, as well as exclusion from government programs.
7. Government Displays with Religious Imagery: Reviewing policies concerning the use of religious symbols or imagery in the public square.
8. Voluntary Prayer and Religious Instruction in Public Schools: Considering the rights of students and educators to engage in voluntary prayer and religious activities in public school settings.
Peaceful Pluralism: Protecting Our Nation’s Constitutional Heritage and Legal Tradition
With a 30-year legacy of advancing religious liberty for all Americans, First Liberty will contribute institutional support and strategic counsel throughout the Commission’s work.
Committed to constitutional originalism and backed by landmark legal victories—including nine wins at the U.S. Supreme Court— First Liberty brings a uniquely qualified perspective. That background will be invaluable in shaping the Commission’s final report with real-world insights, tested legal strategies, and a principled defense of our founding freedoms.
Icing On the Cake: Reigniting America’s Founding Principles
The timing of the Commission’s report is no coincidence. It sends a powerful reminder that America’s most enduring freedoms—especially the freedom to believe—are not granted by the government.
They come from God, in Whom we trust.
As the nation looks toward its 250th birthday, the stage is set not only for a celebration—but a renewed commitment to the values that made Her great in the first place.
Clearly, things are looking up for 2026.
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