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Federal Judge Blocks Deal to Allow Churches to Endorse Candidates
Ruling deals blow to Trump administration and conservative groups seeking to eliminate the Johnson Amendment
Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:03pm
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A federal judge in Texas has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to allow churches to endorse political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status. The lawsuit, brought by several Texas churches and national Christian groups, challenged the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits nonprofits from supporting or opposing political candidates. The Trump administration had sided with the plaintiffs, but the judge ruled he did not have the authority to approve the proposed consent judgment.
Why it matters
The Johnson Amendment has been a mainstay of the U.S. tax code since 1954, preventing churches and other nonprofits from engaging in partisan political activities. Eliminating this law has been a priority for some conservative Christian groups and the Trump administration, as it would allow pastors to more aggressively push political agendas from the pulpit. The judge's ruling maintains the current restrictions on electioneering by tax-exempt organizations.
The details
The lawsuit was brought by several Texas churches and national Christian groups, who argued that the Johnson Amendment's prohibition on endorsing political candidates violated their First Amendment rights. In the final days of the Biden administration, the Department of Justice sought to dismiss the case, but the Trump administration revived it and sided with the plaintiffs. The two sides asked the judge to approve a deal in which the IRS agreed to not enforce the Johnson Amendment against these churches.
- On March 31, 2026, District Judge Cam Barker dismissed the lawsuit.
- The Johnson Amendment has been part of the U.S. tax code since 1954, when it was proposed by then-Texas Sen. Lyndon Johnson.
The players
District Judge Cam Barker
A Trump appointee who previously served as Texas' deputy solicitor general, Barker ruled that he did not have the authority to approve the proposed consent judgment that would have allowed churches to endorse political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
An advocacy group that attempted to intervene in the case, and praised the judge's ruling as a way to 'stop religious extremists from exploiting houses of worship.'
What they’re saying
“We're glad that the Johnson Amendment will remain a strong bulwark to stop religious extremists from exploiting houses of worship.”
— Rachel Laser, President, Americans United for Separation of Church and State
What’s next
The plaintiffs may pursue other avenues to challenge the Johnson Amendment, such as suing after taxes are collected or disputing the loss of tax-exempt status due to a violation of the law.
The takeaway
The judge's ruling maintains the current restrictions on political activity by tax-exempt organizations like churches, preserving the Johnson Amendment as a bulwark against the mixing of partisan politics and tax-exempt status. This decision is a setback for conservative Christian groups and the Trump administration who sought to eliminate this long-standing law.
