The Religious Liberty Commission held its inaugural public session Monday, June 16, at a venue located in Washington, D.C. associated with biblical exhibits. The commission was created by President Donald Trump’s May 1 executive order to advise the White House Faith Office and safeguard religious freedom.
Composed of up to 14 presidential appointees, the commission will conduct hearings and must publish a report on religious liberty by July 4.
Some experts express skepticism that the commission will uphold religious liberty for all, viewing it as advancing a conservative, Trump-friendly Christian agenda, while the White House highlights its diversity.
The commission’s work coincides with controversies like the Resolution Copper Project, where legal rulings upheld mining despite burdens on Apache worship, illustrating tensions between religious freedom and economic interests.
