Trump Commission Seeks to Reinterpret Church-State Separation

The Trump administration's Religious Liberty Commission has released a draft report arguing that the traditional interpretation of the separation of church and state is legally flawed and recommending that the Justice Department adopt an originalist reading of the Constitution's religion clauses, The Parnas Perspective reported.

A draft report from the Trump administration's Religious Liberty Commission calls for expanding religion's role in public life.

The report proposes expanding the role of religion in public life by allowing more religious displays in public schools, repealing the Johnson Amendment that limits political endorsements by nonprofit organizations, and protecting faith-based organizations from certain civil rights requirements.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also argued that the phrase "separation of church and state" should no longer guide public policy, despite the constitutional foundation provided by the First Amendment's Establishment Clause.

The draft comes amid a broader conservative effort to expand the role of religion in government and public institutions following recent Supreme Court decisions that have narrowed interpretations of church-state separation.

Critics, including religious freedom advocates and interfaith organizations, argue the commission promotes a narrow Christian nationalist perspective, lacks religious diversity, and fails to address discrimination against non-Christian faiths.

The commission is accepting public comments on the draft through July 12 while legal challenges to its composition and recommendations continue.