Lt. Gov. Patrick named to lead Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission

President Donald Trump established a Religious Liberty Commission yesterday through an executive order, appointing Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to chair the 14-member body tasked with examining “the foundations of religious liberty in America” and recommending policy changes.

The commission, which includes religious leaders, media personalities and legal experts, will serve until July 4, 2026, coinciding with America’s 250th anniversary.

“The Founders envisioned a Nation in which religious voices and views are integral to a vibrant public square,” Trump wrote in the executive order, citing what he called “emerging threats” to religious freedom.

Patrick, a former radio talk show host and longtime Trump ally, will lead the commission’s work producing a report on religious liberty and advising the White House Faith Office on issues including prayer in schools, religious displays on government property, and conscience protections.

Commission Members

Dan Patrick (Chair): The Texas lieutenant governor has led his state’s Senate in passing legislation to place “In God We Trust” in the Texas Senate, add “Under God” to the state pledge, and establish what is now the largest prison seminary program in the world. Patrick has been outspoken about his faith, stating during his inauguration that “I am a Christian first, a conservative second and a Republican third.”

Dr. Ben Carson (Vice Chair): A renowned retired neurosurgeon who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during Trump’s first administration. Carson is founder of the American Cornerstone Institute and author of “The Perilous Fight,” which outlines his vision for restoring the foundations of family in America. Carson was one of the few Trump cabinet members to serve the entire four-year term.

Ryan T. Anderson: President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center whose research has been cited by Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. Anderson serves as the John Paul II Teaching Fellow in Social Thought at the University of Dallas and authored several books on marriage, religious freedom, and bioethics. His book “When Harry Became Sally” sparked debate when Amazon removed it from its platform in 2021.

Bishop Robert Barron: Founder of Word on Fire ministry, which reaches millions of people through podcasts, videos, and articles. Since 2023, Barron has served as Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota. His “Catholicism” series aired on PBS, and he has been noted for using social media to evangelize. Barron’s organization recently faced controversy for sending cease-and-desist letters to a Catholic magazine.

Carrie Prejean Boller: Former Miss California USA and Trump Campaign Advisory Board member. Boller represents the Women for Trump Coalition and authored “Still Standing: The Untold Story of My Fight Against Gossip, Hate, and Political Attacks.” She gained national attention during the 2009 Miss USA pageant when her answer about marriage created controversy. More recently, she has been an activist at school board meetings.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan: The Archbishop of New York has served as the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and as the chair of the Bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty. Dolan offered prayers at Trump’s first inauguration and has been a prominent Catholic leader in American public life. In October 2024, he initiated legal action against insurers to secure coverage for abuse victims.

Pastor Franklin Graham: President and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, which provides disaster relief worldwide. Graham delivered an invocation at Trump’s 2025 inauguration and has been one of Trump’s most vocal evangelical supporters. He has conducted evangelistic festivals in over 55 countries, reaching hundreds of thousands of people. He has linked LGBTQ+ people with “deepening depravity” and after the 2020 election, endorsed Trump’s false claims of voter fraud, saying “God is with us in this fight.”

Allyson Ho: Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher who has presented over 100 oral arguments in federal and state courts nationwide, including five before the U.S. Supreme Court. Ho previously served as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Counselor to Attorney General John Ashcroft. Her legal victories include cases limiting federal regulatory power and protecting business interests.

Kelly Shackelford: President and CEO of First Liberty Institute, the largest legal firm dedicated exclusively to protecting religious freedom. Shackelford has argued before the Supreme Court and won landmark religious liberty cases, including the American Legion v. American Humanist Association case preserving a cross-shaped veterans memorial. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the United States Supreme Court Historical Society. His organization is a member of the advisory board for Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s controversial collection of policy proposals for reshaping the federal government.

Dr. Phil McGraw: Television personality, author and former licensed psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology. McGraw became a household name through his long-running “Dr. Phil” show and recently published “We’ve Got Issues,” encouraging Americans to reclaim principles of hard work, independence, and faith. His television career began after appearances on Oprah Winfrey’s show. McGraw stopped renewing his Texas psychology license in 2006 and has been criticized by mental health professionals who regard his advice as “at best, simplistic and, at worst, ineffective or harmful.”

Eric Metaxas: is a writer, speaker, and radio host known for his bestselling biographies of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, William Wilberforce, and Martin Luther. He has received the Canterbury Medal from the Becket Fund for Religious Freedom and has testified before Congress regarding anti-Semitism. Initially skeptical, Metaxas later became a vocal supporter of Donald Trump and has authored a series of children’s books titled “Donald the Caveman.” He made headlines after the 2020 election by endorsing Trump’s false claims of election fraud, comparing belief in the stolen election to “believing in Jesus.” In August 2020, video footage showed Metaxas punching an anti-Trump protester, which he later admitted to, claiming he “felt threatened.”

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik: Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel—the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States—and Director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University. Soloveichik lectures internationally on faith in America, the Hebraic roots of the American founding, and Jewish theology. In 2023, he was appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Paula White: Founder and president of Paula White Ministries and Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office. White has been Trump’s personal spiritual advisor for over 20 years, first contacting him in 2002 after he saw her television program. She delivered the invocation at Trump’s 2017 inauguration—the first female clergy member to do so—and chaired his evangelical advisory board during his 2016 campaign. She has faced criticism for promoting prosperity theology, with many Christian leaders labeling her a “false teacher.” In March 2025, White promised “supernatural blessings” to those donating $1,000 or more to her ministry ahead of Passover.

White House officials say the commission will begin its work immediately, with its first public meeting expected next month.