Trump's Religious Liberty Commission to propose expanding religious expression, exemptions

US President Donald Trump's Religious Liberty Commission is preparing to issue recommendations after more than a year of hearings, with proposals focusing on expanding religious expression and exemptions, media reports said on Sunday. Members of the advisory panel outlined their priorities during an April meeting, presenting a range of proposals aimed at increasing the role of religion in public life and policy, according to HuffPost.

Key proposals

Among the ideas discussed were expanding opportunities for religious expression in public schools, increasing access for faith-based organizations to receive public funding, and allowing broader religious exemptions in areas such as labor law, education and healthcare mandates. Commission chair Dan Patrick called for a stronger stance on the relationship between religion and government.

'No separation'

"We need to say there is no separation of church and state… That's a lie," the outlet quoted Patrick as saying, suggesting even the creation of a federal hotline repeating that message. Patrick also advocated for prayer and the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools, while emphasizing that individuals should be free to express religious beliefs openly.

Legal interventions

Other members proposed legal interventions by the Department of Justice in cases involving religious objections. Kelly Shackelford, president of First Liberty Institute, called for a policy requiring governments to pay all legal fees if they lose religious liberty cases. "That would be a huge shifting of power in favor of citizens," he said.

Criticism and lawsuit

Critics, including a progressive interreligious coalition, have filed a lawsuit arguing the panel lacks diversity and presents a one-sided perspective, saying it risks undermining established interpretations of church-state separation. The administration has asked a federal court to dismiss the lawsuit.

Trump's views

Trump has echoed similar views, saying at a 2025 event: "They say separation between church and state… let's forget about that for one time." The commission continues to gather input as it works toward its final report.