Interfaith Leaders Sue Trump's Federal Religious Liberty Commission Over Alleged Christian Bias

Lawsuit claims the commission, led by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, violates federal law by lacking diversity and transparency.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A group of interfaith leaders has filed a lawsuit against the federal Religious Liberty Commission established by former President Donald Trump, alleging the commission is overwhelmingly Christian and not representative of other faiths. The plaintiffs argue the commission violates federal law by lacking balance, transparency, and inclusion, and they are requesting it be restructured to better represent world religions and prevent the exclusion of other viewpoints.

Why it matters

The lawsuit highlights growing concerns about the Trump administration's efforts to prioritize Christian religious interests over other faiths. The case raises questions about the government's role in protecting religious liberty and whether advisory commissions should be required to reflect the diversity of the nation's religious landscape.

The details

The Religious Liberty Commission (RLC) is chaired by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who reportedly requested to take charge of the advisory group. The lawsuit claims the commission has 15 Christian members and one Jewish member, violating the Federal Advisory Committee Act's requirements for fair, balanced, and transparent committees. The plaintiffs, which include religious leaders from the Christian, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu faiths, argue the commission's Christian-centric leanings will lead to biased reports and allow for discrimination against minority religions in the name of 'religious liberty'.

  • The Religious Liberty Commission was established by former President Donald Trump in 2025.
  • Dan Patrick was announced as the chairman of the commission on May 1, 2025.

The players

Religious Liberty Commission (RLC)

A federal commission established by former President Donald Trump to study the past, present and future right to religious freedom in the nation.

Dan Patrick

The Texas Lieutenant Governor who was appointed as the chairman of the Religious Liberty Commission by former President Trump.

Interfaith Alliance

A group of interfaith leaders, including religious leaders from the Christian, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu faiths, who have filed a lawsuit against the Religious Liberty Commission.

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What’s next

The lawsuit requests that the Religious Liberty Commission be restructured to better represent world religions and prevent the exclusion of other viewpoints. It also seeks the release of all documents that have allegedly been doctored or withheld from the public, and a warning label on any previous reports from the commission stating they were produced unlawfully.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing debate over the role of religion in government and the need to balance the protection of religious liberty with the principles of separation of church and state. The case raises concerns about the potential for government-appointed commissions to promote a specific religious agenda, and the importance of ensuring such bodies are truly representative and transparent.