Trump Report Aims to Restore Faith in Public Life

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President Donald Trump received a major report last week aimed at defending the faith of everyday Americans. His Religious Liberty Commission delivered its final report during an Oval Office meeting on Friday, June 26. The plan lays out bold steps to protect the First Amendment rights of believers across the country.

“We’re bringing back religion in our country, and we’re bringing it back quickly and strongly—because for America to be a great nation, we must always be one nation under God,” Trump said. The timing carries deep meaning. The report arrived just days before America marked its 250th birthday.

A Year of Hearings and Hard Truths

Trump created the commission by executive order in May 2025. He asked its members to “identify emerging threats to religious liberty, uphold Federal laws that protect all citizens’ full participation in a pluralistic democracy, and protect the free exercise of religion.”

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick chairs the group, with Dr. Ben Carson serving as vice chairman. Its members include well-known faith leaders such as Franklin Graham and Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Over the past year, the commission held seven hearings and listened to more than 100 witnesses.

Many of those witnesses shared painful stories. One teacher was told to remove a cross from her desk or lose her job. A Navy SEAL lost his pension just three years before retirement because he objected to the COVID-19 vaccine. A doctor was even indicted for exposing gender surgeries on children at a Texas hospital.

Other accounts touched families and houses of worship. A young Jewish man described being targeted on Harvard’s campus because of his faith. A group of nuns told how they were singled out by officials in New York State. Parents also spoke of schools that pushed gender ideology on their children and hid it from them.

These accounts show why so many believers feel their freedoms are under attack. In many cases, the law already protects religious expression. Yet officials and employers often use fear to convince people they must stay silent about their faith.

Twelve Steps to Defend Faith

The 224-page document offers 12 clear recommendations. Several focus on stronger enforcement. The commission asks the Department of Justice to create a task force that tracks religious liberty cases. It also calls for new “Know Your Rights” posters and reporting hotlines for students, parents, teachers, and healthcare workers.

The report also demands real accountability. Any official who accuses a person of improper religious expression must explain that charge in writing within 30 days. The plan further shields believers from government lawsuits that target their faith.

Other steps aim at Congress and the courts. The report urges lawmakers to repeal the Johnson Amendment, which limits how churches and pastors can speak about politics. It also asks the president to appoint judges who will decide these cases on the merits instead of dodging them.

The plan does not forget those who serve. It calls on the military to improve how it handles requests for religious accommodation. It also seeks to restore benefits for service members who lost their jobs over vaccine mandates tied to their beliefs. The report further urges strong civil rights enforcement against antisemitism and violence aimed at houses of worship. To honor brave defenders of faith, it proposes a new Presidential Medal of Religious Liberty. First Liberty president Kelly Shackelford, a member of the commission, called the report a great gift to every American.

Rethinking Church and State

The report’s boldest move may be its stand on a familiar phrase. It asks the Justice Department to clarify the true meaning of the Establishment Clause and “separation of church and state.” Patrick and other members point out that this phrase does not appear anywhere in the Constitution.

For decades, courts used the Lemon test to strip religious displays from public life. That flawed standard blocked Ten Commandments monuments and other signs of America’s faith heritage. In recent years, the Supreme Court set it aside and returned to the nation’s history and traditions.

The commission’s work also builds on the president’s earlier anti-Christian bias task force, which reviewed unfair treatment of Christians inside the government. Together, these efforts point toward a nation that welcomes faith in the public square once again.

Founding Father John Adams understood the link between faith and freedom. “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people,” he said. The commission argues that a healthy nation cannot cut itself off from God and still expect to thrive.

Not everyone agrees. Groups such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation claim the report turns religious freedom into “a special privilege for conservative Christianity.” They worry it blurs the line between government and faith. Supporters answer that the First Amendment protects the free exercise of religion for every American, not the erasing of faith from public life.

A Moment for People of Faith

The report is still a draft. The Justice Department has opened it for public comment through July 13, which means everyday citizens can share their views before the plan becomes final. This is a rare chance for people of faith to speak directly into national policy.

Christians have long believed that liberty is a gift from God, not a gift from the government. The commission’s report reflects that same truth. It reminds us that our freedoms must be guarded and renewed in every generation.

As believers, we are called to pray for our leaders and our nation. Pray for wisdom for those making these decisions, and for safety and dignity for all people affected by them.

That’s where we come in.

Prayer is at the heart of how Million Voices connects faith with civic life. Our Prayer Guide: Pray for Our Government Officials By Name is a free resource designed to help individuals, families, and small groups lift up the men and women who serve in public office—across every level of government and regardless of party.

Rooted in the scriptural call to pray “for kings and all those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1–2), the guide offers a thoughtful framework for interceding on behalf of our leaders: for wisdom in their decisions, integrity in their conduct, protection for them and their families, and a heart for serving the common good.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your personal prayer life or to gather others in praying for our nation, this guide is a meaningful place to start. Download it here: https://millionvoices.org/mv-prayer-guide-pray-for-government-officials/

We also offer an opportunity to connect faith with action. Through our Write Now Campaign, volunteers send letters to low-propensity voters in key areas, helping inspire them to engage and make their voices heard.

Ready to take the next step? Learn more or sign up to get involved: https://millionvoices.org/volunteer/

You can also be notified when Candidate Fact Sheets become available in areas you care about: https://millionvoices.org/cfs-notify/