Religious Liberty Commission Holds Hearing On Antisemitism

The Religious Liberty Commission yesterday held a hearing on combating antisemitism and upholding religious freedom. A video of the full 5-hour hearing, held at the Museum of the Bible, is available here from C-Span. JNS reported on the hearing, saying in part:

A U.S. Religious Liberty Commission hearing on antisemitism in Washington, D.C., on Monday featured testimony about the challenges facing Jews in American society that digressed, at times, into questions about whether it is antisemitic to oppose Israel.

The commissioners, whom U.S. President Donald Trump appointed in May, questioned witnesses from religious organizations, college campuses and the administration about their experiences and possible legal and cultural remedies to Jewish bigotry during four hours of panels.

One of the commissioners, Carrie Prejean Boller, a former Miss California who is now a conservative activist and commentator, peppered witnesses about Israel’s conduct in Gaza and her interpretation of the Roman Catholic position on Zionism....

Lawsuit Challenges Makeup and Operation of Trump's Religious Liberty Commission

Yesterday, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Interfaith organizations filed suit challenging the legality of the Religious Liberty Commission that President Trump created last May. The complaint (full text) in The Interfaith Alliance v. Trump, (SD NY, filed 2/9/2026), contends that the Commission violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act, alleging in part:

3. This case challenges the composition and secrecy of the Religious Liberty Commission. While this body is ostensibly designed to defend “religious liberty for all Americans” and celebrate “religious pluralism” it actually represents only a single “Judeo-Christian” viewpoint. It held its first three meetings at the Museum of the Bible and has closed its meetings with a Christian prayer “in Jesus’ name.” Only one of its members is not Christian and the Christian members do not represent the full diversity of the Christian faith. The Commission’s meetings have repeatedly referenced the belief that the United States was founded as a “Judeo-Christian nation” and the membership reflects that viewpoint. All members of the Commission advocate for increased religiosity, and specifically their brand of “Judeo-Christian” religiosity, in public life....

8. The Commission has also disregarded basic transparency requirements, including by failing to disclose transcripts, agendas, and other materials that would allow Plaintiffs and the public to follow and understand the Commission’s work.....

The suit asks the court, among other relief, to:

Order Defendants to employ good faith efforts to appoint a properly qualified representative from the excluded viewpoints; ...

Enjoin Defendants to attach to any reports or recommendations produced by the Commission a disclaimer stating that the report was produced in violation of FACA’s requirement that the Commission’s membership be fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented....

Interfaith Alliance issued a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.

Religious Liberty Commission Hears Testimony on Religious Liberty in the Military

Yesterday, the federal Religious Liberty Commission held a hearing on Religious Liberty in the Military. The Announcement of the hearing said in part:

The hearing’s objective will be to understand the historic landscape of religious liberty in military, recognize present threats to religious liberty in military contexts, and identify opportunities to strengthen religious liberty for all servicemembers for the future.

 A video recording of the full 2 1/2 hour hearing is available at this link.

Religious Liberty Commission Holds Hearing on Religious Liberty in Education

The Religious Liberty Commission yesterday held a four-hour hearing on Religious Liberty in Education. (Video of full hearing.) The hearing included a tribute to Charlie Kirk, and panels on Teacher and Coach Perspectives; Protecting the Religious Identity and Autonomy of Faith-Based Schools; and Faith-Based Schools and the State. The Lion reports on the testimony of various witnesses before the Commission.