by Jorge Gomez • 5 minutes
Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, President Trump laid out multiple steps he planned to take to stop attacks on religious liberty and on Christians in particular.
The administration plans to establish a task force to protect religious freedom and address religious discrimination. The commission will be led by the U.S. Department of Justice and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The mission of the task force will be to “immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination in the federal government,” including at the Department of Justice, the FBI, the IRS and other agencies, Trump said in his speech.
“While I’m in the White House, we will protect Christians in our schools, in our military, in our government, in our workplaces, hospitals and in our public squares,” he said. “And we will bring our country back together as one nation under God.”
In an op-ed for Newsweek, First Liberty’s Senior Director of External Affairs Kassie Dulin outlined many of the executive policy changes that will help protect religious freedom, free speech and a host of other issues impacting people of faith.
“To the delight of many people of faith, Trump has championed religious freedom and free speech beyond what they could have hoped in his first week in office, taking seven significant actions to advance First Amendment rights,” Dulin explained. “And it seems that he’s just getting started.”
As religious Americans confront increasing attacks on their constitutional rights, they need leaders who will stand up and defend religious freedom. Many of the leaders recently confirmed to the executive branch have shown a strong commitment to protect our First Freedom.
Attorney General Bondi’s record indicates that she will fight for religious freedom as the nation’s top law enforcement official. During her confirmation hearing, Bondi pledged to end the weaponization of the DOJ, which the Biden administration used to target religious Americans.
“That is the whole problem…the weaponization that we’ve seen over the last four years,” Bondi told the Senate Judiciary Committee. “That will not be the case if I am Attorney General. I will not politicize that office. Justice will be administered evenhandedly throughout this country.”
“Pam Bondi is exceptionally qualified to be Attorney General of the United States,” said First Liberty’s President, CEO & Chief Counsel Kelly Shackelford. “As the first woman elected as Attorney General of Florida, she proved to be a relentless advocate for the rule of law and Constitutional rights and has spent her career fighting to defend our God-given rights.”
In 2023, First Liberty reported on claims that the FBI—an agency of the DOJ—spied on American Catholics. A congressional report confirmed those claims. National leaders repeatedly pointed out how Biden’s DOJ selectively prosecuted Christian pro-life advocates for praying and singing hymns outside abortion facilities. Meanwhile, the department turned a blind eye to a wave of anti-Catholic violence across the country.
Under Bondi’s leadership, the outlook for religious liberty and the Department of Justice appears to be much better. In stark contrast to Biden’s tenure, the first Trump administration took the DOJ in a direction that was very favorable to religious freedom. Bondi will have an opportunity to continue these positive actions during Trump’s second term.
“First Liberty is thrilled with Bondi’s confirmation and we look forward to working with her to ensure that religious liberty is protected,” Shackelford added.
The Senate also confirmed Doug Collins as the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
For Americans concerned about religious freedom violations against our nation’s service members and veterans, Collins’ confirmation is a sign of hope. Collins’ record shows he’s a staunch protector of religious liberty, especially in the military.
“Doug Collins is an excellent choice to direct the Department of Veterans Affairs because, as a veteran himself, he understands the needs of those who have served our nation through military service,” Shackelford said.
“As a former military chaplain and a Baptist minister, he understands the importance of faith among our nation’s military community,” he added. “In recent years, some at the VA have been hostile to expressions of faith at VA centers and by VA staff. Doug Collins will protect religious liberty and make it a high priority to correct those wrongs.”
On Inauguration Day, the Senate unanimously confirmed Sen. Marco Rubio as U.S. Secretary of State, becoming the first member of the President’s Cabinet. Rubio has received high praise for his work and defense of religious freedom, both in America and globally.
As a Senator, Rubio led a coalition of lawmakers to support the Holy Name College Friary, a Catholic group that provides spiritual care to service members and veterans at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. They demanded answers from the Department of Defense when it abruptly terminated its contract with the priests, preventing them from ministering to service members.
Rubio and two Senate colleagues also sent a letter to the Institute of Museum and Library Services demanding an investigation into the American Library Association’s potential misuse of taxpayer dollars to censor Brave Books, a Christian children’s book publisher.
Rubio also fought in favor of religious schools. He, alongside Sen. Mitch McConnell and more than 30 senators, filed a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the right of religious schools to meet in person, at a time when many states were subjecting faith-based schools to severe and unequal pandemic restrictions.
Rubio has been a strong advocate for religious freedom abroad, helping secure the release of prisoners of conscience, including those imprisoned for their faith or beliefs, according to our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom.
“As senator, Secretary Rubio was a champion for international religious freedom,” said Stephen Schneck, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. “Not only was he the Senate sponsor of USCIRF’s bipartisan reauthorization in 2024, but he also worked tirelessly to confront global violations of this fundamental human right for people of every belief and everywhere in the world, especially in China, Nicaragua and Cuba.”
Related Articles:
Newsweek: Opinion | Trump’s Executive Orders Secured Our Most Fundamental Freedoms
Pres. Trump Signs Several Executive Orders That Will Benefit Religious Freedom
‘NEVER AGAIN’ – Trump Promises to Stop Religious Persecution in America
Attorney General Nominee Pam Bondi Will Be a Strong Protector of Religious Freedom
Attorney General Nominee Vows to Stop Weaponization of Justice Department
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