Overview
- The Department of Justice posted the Religious Liberty Commission’s 224‑page draft report on June 26, which the commission presented to President Trump and opened for public comment through July 12.
- Critics and several civil‑society groups say the 12‑member panel is overwhelmingly Christian and biased, and a coalition of interfaith and minority faith groups has filed a lawsuit alleging violations of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
- The report calls for dozens of changes including DOJ guidance on the Establishment Clause, a DOJ religious‑liberty task force, a hotline and online portal for alleged violations, wider access to public funds for faith‑based groups, and repeal or nonenforcement of the Johnson Amendment.
- Some recommendations could be implemented by agencies through new guidance or hotlines, while major changes such as repealing the Johnson Amendment or altering statutory military and healthcare rules would need congressional action or court rulings.
- Coverage divides by perspective with outlets like Deseret News and Fox emphasizing witness accounts and protections for faith practitioners, while outlets such as Religion News Service, The i Paper and academic commentators highlight risks of privileging one faith and challenge the report’s reinterpretation of the long‑standing church‑state separation doctrine.