Trump DOJ and HHS Issue Major Religious Liberty, Pro-Life Protections

President Donald Trump’s administration kept a major campaign promise on Friday, implementing his Executive Order 13798 by issuing key protections for religious liberty, as well as protecting the unborn.

President Trump signed Executive Order 13798 on May 4 to declare the policy of the United States government regarding religious liberty under the U.S. Constitution and federal law, the first such order in American history.

“The Founders envisioned a Nation in which religious voices and views were integral to a vibrant public square, and in which religious people and institutions were free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or retaliation by the Federal Government,” the executive order says in Section 1.

Going on to explain that the Constitution’s First Amendment enshrines fundamental rights to religious liberty, Section 1 continues, “Federal law protects the freedom of Americans and their organizations to exercise religion and participate fully in civic life without undue interference by the Federal Government.”

Later in the document, Section 4 of that executive order provides, “In order to guide all agencies in complying with relevant Federal law, the Attorney General shall, as appropriate, issue guidance interpreting religious liberty protections in Federal law.”

Attorney General Jeff Sessions acted Friday upon Section 4’s mandate, issuing guidance that declares 20 separate protections under federal law.

They include: