How President Trump’s Second Term Has Shaped Religious Freedom Policies
Editor's Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Regent University, its faculty, administration, or affiliates.
Psalm 33:12 tells us, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Filled with that knowledge, America’s Founding Fathers clearly acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence that our rights as citizens of the United States come from a source far beyond and above our government.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
To ensure these God-given rights are not infringed upon, they were enshrined individually and clearly in our Constitution to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…” The First Amendment begins with this promise to every American citizen:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
In the landscape of modern American politics, President Trump enacted multiple executive orders and initiatives aimed at strengthening religious liberty protections. In fact, a compelling case can be made that Mr. Trump has advanced the cause of our First Amendment liberties to a much greater extent than his recent predecessors. Through executive actions, policy shifts, and cultural leadership, he has reasserted faith at the heart of governance.
1. Establishment of the White House Faith Office
On February 7, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order creating the White House Faith Office, placing it under the Domestic Policy Council and appointing his longtime spiritual advisor, Paula White-Cain, to lead it. The office’s mandate includes assisting faith-based organizations and houses of worship, coordinating religious-liberty training, identifying grant opportunities, and partnering with Attorney General Pamela Bondi to address gaps in enforcing religious protections. This office replaced the Obama-era Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, signaling a renewed emphasis on empowering religious groups to serve communities in ways aligned with Christian values.
2. Creation of the Religious Liberty Commission
In another bold move on May 1, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order establishing a Religious Liberty Commission, chaired by Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and vice chaired by former GOP presidential candidate and HUD Secretary, Dr. Ben Carson (former Regent trustee). Other notable members include Regent University professor Dr. Mark David Hall, Regent alumni Kristen Waggoner (LAW, ‘97) and Abigail Robertson (DIV, ‘23).
The commission’s mission: to vigorously defend religious liberty, assess threats, recommend policies, and craft a comprehensive report on religious protections in America.
At the Rose Garden ceremony, Mr. Trump openly defied the popular secular argument that faith does not belong in the public square: “They say, ‘separation between church and state’… I said, ‘All right, let’s forget about that for one time.’” That statement resonated with his widely evangelical base.
3. Task Force Against “Anti-Christian Bias”
During the National Prayer Breakfast in early February 2025, President Trump signed an executive order establishing a task force led by the Attorney General to root out anti-Christian bias within federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He charged the task force with halting discrimination, prosecuting anti-Christian violence and vandalism, and safeguarding people of faith and religious institutions across America.
Mr. Trump’s publicly stated conviction that “If we don’t have religious liberty… we probably don’t even have a country” underlines the moral urgency he attaches to religious freedom in our great nation.
4. Expanded Religious Expression & Conservative Policies
The Trump administration has made several key moves aligned with conservative Christian values:
- Pulpit Freedom: The enforcement of the Johnson Amendment was effectively curtailed. Ministers could speak politically from the pulpit without tax-exempt jeopardy — though the amendment itself wasn’t repealed, its enforcement was effectively neutralized.
- Faith Expression in Government: Faith displays and religious conversations were permitted in federal workplaces, reintroducing a spiritual dimension to D.C. culture.
- Rollbacks on DEI & Progressive Agendas: The administration dismantled numerous diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, stemming the tide of progressive curricula and federal indoctrination. Funding for taxpayer-funded organizations that don’t align with pro-life, pro-family, and other traditional values (see below) has also been cut back.
- Transgender Policy Revisions: Restrictions were placed on “gender-affirming care” for minors. Biological males were forbidden from participating in girls’ and women’s sports and having access to girls’ and women’s locker rooms and other female-only spaces. Also, DEI language and offices were rolled back in response to objections voiced by religious groups, privacy-rights activists, and others.
All these efforts signaled a shifting federal posture that prioritized religious liberty and conservative social values over the rise of “woke” ideology in recent years.
5. EEOC Leadership Shift Toward Religious Rights
In early 2025, Andrea Lucas secured a second five-year appointment as Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Under her leadership, enforcement away from DEI and transgender protections has intensified, with increased scrutiny on defending religious rights and combating anti-Semitism. This realignment underscores the Trump administration’s broader spiritual focus.
Broader Impacts: Education, Federal DEI, and Pro-Life Advocacy
Targeting classrooms across America, Mr. Trump’s initiatives included a ban on Critical Race Theory and “gender ideology” in public education—reasserting traditional values in schools, colleges, and universities.
By eliminating federal “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” (DEI) programs, the administration cast a powerful vote for a merit- and faith-based cultural ideals. Critics argue his administration’s actions reduce protections for minority communities, but supporters insist it restores religious, scientific and social norms that were previously attacked, marginalized, and/or ignored.
Within his first week, President Trump pardoned a group of pro-life activists convicted under federal law for blocking access to abortion clinics. The administration also amplified Christian engagement in public policy debates, reinforcing pro-life values in the national conversation.
Leadership & Cultural Transformation
Mr. Trump’s Cabinet and leadership team includes deeply committed Christian public servants whose governance aligns with spiritual values, including Bondi, Patrick, Carson, and many others. The men and women serving alongside President Trump have strong Christian-conservative credentials and have been entrusted with defending religious liberty. Their appointments transformed White House culture: Worship and prayer were lifted to institutional levels, reinforcing a sense that divine guidance has been woven into our governance from the very beginnings of the Republic.
In partnership with a GOP-controlled Congress, Mr. Trump has also led efforts to defund agencies many view as hostile to religious and/or conservative values. Republicans have redirected or outright eliminated funding for Planned Parenthood, USAID, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and other organizations operating in conflict with Judeo-Christian principles.
Conclusion: Religious Freedom Must Be Defended For All Americans!
While a reasonable argument can be made that America is still a “Christian nation,” it’s far more important to recognize — and defend — the ideal that the United States is a haven for people of faith. Job 12:23 (NKJV) warns us that God “makes nations great, and destroys them.” Not only is it every American’s right to exercise and celebrate our faith, it’s wise for us to pray for the Lord to give our leaders “a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong” (1 Kings 3:9, NIV).
Mr. Trump’s second-term actions have signaled a clear re-orientation of the federal government toward religious liberty, especially for Christians. By institutionalizing faith (the Faith Office), responding to cultural crises (Anti-Christian Task Force), and embedding religious language into civil governance, he reset the boundaries between church and state in a way that’s deeply meaningful for much of evangelical America.
While anti-faith critics likely see President Trump’s actions as blurring constitutional lines, many Christians view them as restoring the United States’ foundational liberties. Supporters argue these measures restored protections for religious liberty, while critics contend they raise constitutional questions about church-state boundaries. Regardless, President Trump’s second-term actions represent a significant federal shift in how religious freedom is defined and defended.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Faith_Office
https://www.axios.com/2025/05/01/trump-religious-liberty-commission-order
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/01/trump-religious-commission-church-state-00321814
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_executive_orders_in_the_second_presidency_of_Donald_Trump
https://www.axios.com/2025/05/01/trump-religious-liberty-commission-order
https://apnews.com/article/30ff6f55a2e3c7b8643a15e7b158537d
https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/trump-will-take-part-in-the-bipartisan-national-20150819.php
https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/trump-will-take-part-in-the-bipartisan-national-20150819.php
