President Trump issued an executive order on Thursday instructing federal agencies to reassess policies that he claims have restricted religious expression, particularly among Christians. Announced at the National Prayer Breakfast, the order establishes a Justice Department task force dedicated to investigating alleged discrimination against Christians and prosecuting acts of violence or vandalism directed at churches and religious organizations.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has been appointed to lead the task force, with Trump vowing that it will take decisive action to safeguard the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide. Calling the initiative historic, he emphasized its significance, declaring, “You’ve never had that before, but this is a very powerful document I’m signing. If we don’t have religious liberty, then we don’t have a free country,” writes The New York Times.
In 2023, it was revealed that the Biden administration and FBI allegedly targeted religious conservatives, particularly Catholics, as part of a broader left-wing effort to suppress traditional Christianity. It claims that an Atlantic article linking the rosary to extremism influenced the FBI to label “Radical-Traditionalist Catholics” as potential threats, leading to an internal intelligence memo advocating surveillance of Latin Mass attendees.
A whistleblower exposed the memo, prompting backlash from Republican attorneys general, who accused the FBI of anti-Catholic bias and constitutional violations. The article also criticizes the left-wing media’s role in justifying government actions and argues that such incidents fuel conservative distrust of intelligence agencies. It further claims that Democrats, including Biden and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are increasingly hostile toward Christianity, citing political attacks and church vandalism post-Roe v. Wade. Republicans have responded by forming a committee to investigate government “weaponization” against religious groups.
The executive order targets what it describes as an ongoing pattern of federal agencies singling out Christian activists while overlooking offenses against religious groups. It specifically cites the prosecution of anti-abortion demonstrators who blocked access to clinics, a policy enforced under Biden. Additionally, the order instructs agencies to examine whether enforcement actions have disproportionately impacted conservative religious organizations.
Beyond the Justice Department initiative, Trump also announced plans to establish a White House faith office, led by televangelist and longtime spiritual adviser Rev. Paula White. He further proposed the creation of a presidential commission on religious liberty, which he described as a major step toward strengthening protections for religious expression.
