Establishment of the Religious Liberty Commission

Executive Order 14291 of May 1, 2025

Establishment of the Religious Liberty Commission

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose and Policy. It shall be the policy
of the executive branch to vigorously enforce the
historic and robust protections for religious liberty
enshrined in Federal law. The Founders envisioned a
Nation in which religious voices and views are integral
to a vibrant public square and human flourishing and in
which religious people and institutions are free to
practice their faith without fear of discrimination or
hostility from the Government. Indeed, the roots of
religious liberty stretch back to the early settlers
who fled religious persecution in Europe, seeking a new
world where they could choose, follow, and practice
their faith without interference from the Government.
The principle of religious liberty was enshrined in
American law with the First Amendment to the
Constitution in 1791. Since that time, the Constitution
has protected the fundamental right to religious
liberty as Americans' first freedom.

During my first term, I issued Executive Order 13798 of
May 4, 2017 (Promoting Free Speech and Religious
Liberty). Pursuant to that order, the Attorney General
issued a memorandum for all executive departments and
agencies (agencies) titled “Federal Law Protections
for Religious Liberty” on October 6, 2017. The Supreme
Court has also continued to vindicate the Founders'
commitment to religious liberty, including by giving
effect to the principle that religious voices should be
welcomed on an equal basis in the public square.

In recent years, some Federal, State, and local
policies have threatened America's unique and beautiful
tradition of religious liberty. These policies attempt
to infringe upon longstanding conscience protections,
prevent parents from sending their children to
religious schools, threaten loss of funding or denial
of non-profit tax status for faith-based entities, and
single out religious groups and institutions for
exclusion from governmental programs. Some opponents of
religious liberty would remove religion entirely from
public life. Others characterize religious liberty as
inconsistent with civil rights, despite religions'
vital roles in the abolition of slavery; the passage of
Federal civil rights laws; and the provision of
indispensable social, educational, and health services.

President Ronald Reagan reminded us that “freedom is
never more than one generation away from extinction.”
Americans need to be reacquainted with our Nation's
superb experiment in religious freedom in order to
preserve it against emerging threats. Therefore, the
Federal Government will promote citizens' pride in our
foundational history, 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.

Sec. 2. Establishment of the Religious Liberty
Commission. (a) There is hereby established the
Religious Liberty Commission (Commission).

    (b) The Commission shall function as follows:

(i) The Commission shall be composed of up to 14 members appointed by the
President. Members of the Commission shall include individuals chosen to
serve as educated representatives of various sectors of society, including
the private sector, employers, educational institutions, religious
communities, and States, to offer diverse perspectives on how the Federal

Government can defend religious liberty for all Americans. The President
shall designate a Chairman and Vice Chairman from among the members. The
Commission shall also include the following ex officio members or such
senior officials as those members may designate:

(A) the Attorney General;

(B) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and

(C) the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy.

(ii) Members appointed to the Commission shall serve one term ending on
July 4, 2026, which marks the 250th anniversary of American Independence.
If the term of the Commission is extended by the President beyond July 4,
2026, members shall be eligible for reappointment for a 2-year term.
Members may continue to serve after the expiration of their terms until the
appointment of a successor.

(iii) The Commission shall produce a comprehensive report on the
foundations of religious liberty in America, the impact of religious
liberty on American society, current threats to domestic religious liberty,
strategies to preserve and enhance religious liberty protections for future
generations, and programs to increase awareness of and celebrate America's
peaceful religious pluralism. Specific topics to be considered by the
Commission under these categories shall include the following areas: the
First Amendment rights of pastors, religious leaders, houses of worship,
faith-based institutions, and religious speakers; attacks across America on
houses of worship of many religions; debanking of religious entities; the
First Amendment rights of teachers, students, military chaplains, service
members, employers, and employees; conscience protections in the health
care field and concerning vaccine mandates; parents' authority to direct
the care, upbringing, and education of their children, including the right
to choose a religious education; permitting time for voluntary prayer and
religious instruction at public schools; Government displays with religious
imagery; and the right of all Americans to freely exercise their faith
without fear or Government censorship or retaliation.

(iv) The Commission shall advise the White House Faith Office and the
Domestic Policy Council on religious liberty policies of the United States.
Specific activities of the Commission shall include, to the extent
permitted by law, recommending steps to secure domestic religious liberty
by executive or legislative actions as well as identifying opportunities
for the White House Faith Office to partner with the Ambassador at Large
for International Religious Freedom to further the cause of religious
liberty around the world.

(v) Members of the Commission shall serve without any compensation for
their work on the Commission. Members of the Commission, while engaged in
the work of the Commission, may be allowed travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, to the extent permitted by law for persons
serving intermittently in Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707),
consistent with the availability of funds.

(vi) To advise members of the Commission:

(A) An Advisory Board of Religious Leaders shall be designated by the
President and shall consist of not more than 15 members. The Advisory Board
of Religious Leaders shall be a subcomponent of the Commission and report
to the Chairman of the Commission;

(B) An Advisory Board of Lay Leaders from religious congregations shall
be designated by the President and shall consist of not more than 15
members. The Advisory Board of Lay Leaders shall be a subcomponent of the
Commission and report to the Chairman of the Commission; and

(C) An Advisory Board of Legal Experts shall be designated by the
President and shall consist of the Attorney General, or the Attorney
General's designee, and not more than 10 attorneys. The Advisory Board

of Legal Experts shall be a subcomponent of the Commission and report to
the Chairman of the Commission.

(vii) The Commission shall terminate on July 4, 2026, which marks the 250th
anniversary of American Independence, unless extended by the President.

(viii) The Department of Justice shall provide such funding and
administrative and technical support as the Commission may require, to the
extent permitted by law and as authorized by existing appropriations.

(ix) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act (chapter 10 of title 5,
United States Code) may apply to the Commission or any of its Advisory
Boards, any functions of the President under that Act, except for those in
sections 1005 and 1013 of that Act, shall be performed by the Attorney
General, in accordance with the guidelines and procedures established by
the Administrator of General Services.

Sec. 3. Severability. If any provision of this order,
or the application of any provision to any agency,
person, or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the
remainder of this order and the application of its
provisions to any other agencies, persons, or
circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    May 1, 2025.