Approaching the 100-day milestone of his second term, President Donald J. Trump has enacted a series of policies affecting religious liberty, free speech, and cultural issues. Here are the highlights.
Free Speech and Media Access
In a move to address concerns over free speech, President Trump pardoned 23 pro-life activists prosecuted under the FACE Act for peaceful demonstrations outside abortion clinics. Subsequently, the administration initiated a review of the FACE Act’s application, aiming to prevent its misuse against religious expression.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under Chairman Brendan Carr, has launched a deregulatory initiative targeting perceived censorship by major tech platforms. Carr emphasized the need to dismantle what he described as a “censorship cartel,” focusing on restoring free speech rights online.
Religious Liberty Initiatives
President Trump signed an executive order establishing the White House Faith Office, designed to empower faith-based organizations and houses of worship. The office aims to coordinate with federal agencies to promote religious liberty and identify grant opportunities for faith-based entities. In tandem, the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias will address and prevent discrimination against Christian individuals and organizations.
Just this week, NRB General Counsel Mike Farris participated in the inaugural Task Force meeting, hosted by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The formation of this group marks a significant step in the administration’s commitment to championing religious expression—and the platforms that amplify it—within federal policy.
Policies on Gender and Conscience Protections
The administration issued an executive order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” which mandates federal recognition of only two genders and prohibits funding for gender-affirming care. Another executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” bans trans-identifying athletes from participating in women’s sports teams at educational institutions, linking compliance to federal funding. These policies reflect the administration’s stance on gender-related issues, emphasizing traditional definitions and protections for women’s spaces.
Key Appointments
Several appointments have been made to uphold the administration’s priorities, officials who are instrumental in advancing policies that align with the interests of Christian communicators:
- Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman, is leading efforts against online censorship and promoting deregulation to benefit broadcasters.
- Pam Bondi, serving as Attorney General, has pledged to ensure the FACE Act is applied equitably, addressing concerns of its previous use against pro-life activists.
- Andrew Ferguson, as FTC Chairman, is initiating investigations into potential antitrust violations by major tech companies, focusing on preserving free speech.
- Gail Slater, heading the Antitrust Division, is actively pursuing cases against large tech firms to address concerns over market dominance and its impact on information dissemination.
Support for Israel
President Trump’s executive order, “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” reaffirms his historic 2019 executive order. In addition, the president nominated former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, and the Senate confirmed his appointment earlier this month. NRB applauds Huckabee’s confirmation, recognizing his longstanding commitment to Israel and his ability to advance U.S. interests in the region.