(The Daily Signal) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday establishing a task force to end the anti-Christian weaponization of government.
“The mission of this task force will be to immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the [Justice Department], which was absolutely terrible,” Trump said at a National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning.
🚨 President Trump announces that he will be signing an Executive Order to make Attorney General Pam Bondi the head of a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias. pic.twitter.com/IaxhAGuDBZ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 6, 2025
The “Task Force to End the War on Christians” will be composed of members of Trump’s Cabinet and key government agencies. It will identify and eliminate anti-Christian policies, practices, and conduct, The Daily Signal has learned.
Newly confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi will lead the task force to promote religious freedom.
Trump said the task force is a response to four years of religious discrimination from the Biden-Harris administration. The Biden Department of Justice convicted 23 peaceful pro-lifers for praying at abortion clinics and encouraging women to choose life. About half of those pro-lifers, many of whom were elderly, served time in jail.
Trump pardoned those pro-lifers who were convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act on his fourth day in office.
On the day of the March of Life, Calvin Zastrow, 64, is reunited with his wife and children after being released from a Nashville prison.
A year ago, he was convicted for violating the FACE Act after praying at an abortion clinic and urging women to choose life. pic.twitter.com/XcOdK7daLU
— Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell (@TheElizMitchell) January 24, 2025
Though the DOJ was highly vigilant against pro-lifers, it charged hardly anyone over the hundreds of attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers and churches.
Christians were discriminated against by the foster care system due to their beliefs on gender. The Biden Health and Human Services Department issued a federal rule in September 2023 directing states to ensure foster children who identify as LGBTQ+ are placed in “affirming” homes.
Religious groups immediately warned the foster care rule would discriminate against faith-based providers.
The FBI’s Richmond office wrote an internal memo in 2023, calling traditional Catholics “Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists” and outlining “new mitigation opportunities.”
Former FBI Director Christopher Wray said employees involved with the memo were “admonished,” but not removed.
Trump’s new task force will remedy gaps in laws and enforcement that have contributed to anti-Christian conduct. This includes addressing any failures to fully enforce the law against hostility, vandalism, and violence against Christians.
“In addition, the task force will work to fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society,” Trump said at the prayer breakfast, “and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide.”
Input will be gathered from various stakeholders, including faith-based organizations and those targeted by anti-Christian conduct over the past four years.
The task force will propose ideas for additional presidential or legislative actions to rectify past wrongs and protect Americans’ religious liberties. It will submit an annual report on its findings and accomplishments.
Trump also named a White House Faith Office led by his spiritual adviser Paula White.
This article was originally published by The Daily Signal.
Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporting fellow for The Daily Signal.
