The group says it is seeking records relating to the formation and funding of the commission, the appointment of its members and advisers, and its three public meetings held in June and September. This includes meeting records, expenses, decisions regarding invited speakers, and the use of the Museum of the Bible in the US capital.
Under federal law, the commission is required to produce these records.
“Everything about the Religious Liberty Commission signals that its mission isn’t about protecting religious liberty for everyone; it’s about rejecting our nation’s religious diversity and prioritising one narrow set of conservative Christian beliefs,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United.
She added: “We launched this investigation because the commission’s true purpose and operations can’t be squared with America’s constitutional promise of church-state separation.”
Trump established the Religious Liberty Commission on 1 May by executive order, stating that it would allow the executive branch to vigorously “enforce the historic and robust protections” for religious liberty “enshrined in Federal law.”
During a commission meeting in September, Trump reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to religious freedom and announced plans to promote the role of religion in American society, as previously reported by Premier Christian News.
Groups such as AU, however, have expressed frustration with the administration, characterising its actions as dismissive and lacking respect for faiths outside Christianity—prompting them to launch the investigation.
Americans United is a religious freedom advocacy organisation based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, it educates the public about the importance of church-state separation.