Dan Patrick Named Chair of Trump's Presidential Religious Liberty Commission - Faith & Freedom News

May 2, 2025

In a significant development for religious freedom advocacy in America, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has been appointed as Chairman of the newly established Presidential Religious Liberty Commission by President Donald Trump. The announcement came yesterday during the National Day of Prayer ceremony at the White House, where Patrick joined the President and other commission members for the formal announcement.

Presidential Appointment Signals Focus on Religious Freedom

Lieutenant Governor Patrick expressed deep appreciation for the appointment in his statement released from Austin on Thursday. “I am honored to be selected as the Chairman of the Religious Liberty Commission by President Trump,” Patrick stated. His comments highlight the prestigious nature of the appointment and underscore the administration’s renewed emphasis on religious liberty as a policy priority.

Patrick’s selection places a prominent Republican state official at the helm of what is expected to be an influential advisory body to the White House. As Lieutenant Governor of Texas since 2015, Patrick has consistently emphasized his commitment to faith-based values throughout his political career, making him an aligned choice for President Trump’s religious liberty initiative.

Commission Composition Reveals Diverse Religious and Cultural Leaders

The Presidential Religious Liberty Commission brings together a remarkable assembly of faith leaders, scholars, public figures, and legal experts from across the American religious landscape. Dr. Ben Carson, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Trump’s first administration, will serve as Vice Chair alongside Patrick.

The commission’s membership reflects a deliberate effort to include voices from multiple faith traditions and professional backgrounds:

Religious Leadership: Cardinal Timothy Dolan (Archbishop of New York), Rev. Franklin Graham (President of Samaritan’s Purse and son of evangelist Billy Graham), Bishop Robert Barron (founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries), Pastor Paula White (spiritual advisor to former President Trump), and Rabbi Meir Soloveichik (prominent Orthodox Jewish leader)
Legal and Academic Expertise: Ryan Anderson (President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center) and Allyson Ho (appellate attorney and former law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor)
Cultural Figures: Dr. Phil McGraw (television personality and author), Eric Metaxas (author and radio host), and Carrie Boller (faith advocate)
Religious Liberty Advocacy: Kelly Shackelford (President and CEO of First Liberty Institute, a legal organization focused on religious freedom cases)

This diverse composition suggests the commission will approach religious liberty questions from multiple perspectives while maintaining alignment with the administration’s stated priorities.

Commission’s Mandate and Anticipated Impact

According to the recent Executive Order establishing the commission, Patrick and his colleagues will undertake a comprehensive examination of religious liberty in America, focusing on both historical foundations and contemporary challenges. The commission is tasked with producing a report on strategies to preserve and enhance religious freedom protections.

In his statement, Patrick emphasized the commission’s purpose: “We will carry out the president’s important mission to preserve and strengthen religious liberty in our country. I thank President Trump for his steadfast commitment to ensuring our nation returns to our founding principles of faith and religious liberty.”

Key areas of focus will likely include parental rights in religious education, conscience protections for individuals and organizations, addressing attacks on houses of worship, preserving free speech for religious entities, and maintaining institutional autonomy for faith-based organizations.

Implications for Religious Freedom Policy

This appointment places Patrick in a position to significantly influence the national conversation on religious liberty. The commission is expected to advise the White House Faith Office and Domestic Policy Council on religious-liberty policies and recommend specific executive or legislative actions.

Religious liberty advocates have welcomed the establishment of the commission and Patrick’s appointment, viewing it as a concrete step toward addressing what they perceive as growing challenges to religious freedom in America. The commission’s recommendations could potentially shape policy decisions affecting religious organizations, faith-based service providers, and religious education institutions across the country.

Patrick’s closing remark about returning to “founding principles of faith and religious liberty” signals the commission’s likely orientation toward a robust interpretation of First Amendment protections for religious expression and practice.

Lt. Governor Patrick Reveals Collaboration with Trump Administration on Religious Liberty Commission

In a heartfelt message shared across his social media platforms yesterday, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick offered additional insights into the formation of the Presidential Commission for Religious Liberty. The Texas official revealed that the announcement’s timing on the National Day of Prayer was intentional and the result of extensive coordination with the White House.

“The President, his team, and I have been working together on this Presidential Commission for Religious Liberty with the goal of announcing it on the National Day of Prayer,” Patrick disclosed, highlighting the strategic planning behind the commission’s launch.

Patrick expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the Rose Garden ceremony alongside President Trump, describing the experience in personal terms. “I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to speak in the Rose Garden alongside a President—especially one who is not only a friend but also a fellow believer,” he stated.

In his message, the Lieutenant Governor offered effusive praise for President Trump’s commitment to religious freedom, noting that the President “loves God, praises Jesus, and shows respect for people of all faiths.” Patrick’s statement concluded with a significant historical assessment of Trump’s record on religious liberty issues: “No President in modern history, or perhaps in all of history, has championed religious liberty for all Americans like President Trump.”

This characterization underscores the importance Patrick places on his new role as Commission Chair and suggests the close alignment between his views and the administration’s stated priorities regarding religious freedom protections. The Lieutenant Governor’s comments provide additional context for understanding how the Commission’s work may unfold under his leadership in the coming months.

Looking Forward

As the Presidential Religious Liberty Commission begins its work under Patrick’s leadership, observers will be watching closely to see how the commission approaches complex questions at the intersection of religious freedom, civil rights, and the proper role of government in religious matters.

The commission represents President Trump’s continued focus on religious liberty issues, building on executive actions he took during his first administration and fulfilling campaign promises to prioritize religious freedom protections. With Patrick’s appointment, Texas now has a direct voice in shaping this national conversation.