LEFTIST INTERFAITH ALLIANCE SUES TRUMP’S RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION—CLAIMS IT’S “UNCONSTITUTIONAL” FOR BEING TOO CHRISTIAN

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A coalition of multifaith groups filed a politically charged lawsuit Monday against the Trump administration’s White House Religious Liberty Commission, calling it a violation of the First Amendment because, they say, it doesn’t pand­er to every faith under the sun.

The lawsuit — brought by Interfaith Alliance, Muslims for Progressive Values, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Hindus for Human Rights — landed in federal court in the Southern District of New York. Plaintiffs claim the commission, created by President Trump to protect religious freedom, is dominated by Christian voices and excludes minority faiths like Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism.

According to the complaint, every member of the commission except one Orthodox Jewish rabbi identifies as Christian. Critics argue this allegedly “Christian majority” undermines their vision of religious pluralism — even though the commission has heard testimony from non-Christian witnesses in past hearings.

The lawsuit hinges on claims that the panel violates both the First Amendment and the Federal Advisory Committee Act by failing to be "fairly balanced" and transparent — legal standards the plaintiffs say are necessary to keep government from favoring one set of beliefs.

Interfaith Alliance President Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush declared the commission’s makeup unconstitutional and promised his group will “hold them accountable.” Ani Zonneveld of Muslims for Progressive Values warned elevating one religion could “lead to oppression.”

Meanwhile, critics from the left are already framing the lawsuit as part of a broader fight against so-called Christian nationalism, accusing the Trump administration of trying to remake America in a narrow religious image.

This commission was launched last year by executive order with the stated mission of defending religious liberty — a cornerstone principle the Trump White House insists benefits all Americans, not just Christians. The Justice Department has defended its work and dismissed claims of bias.

Supporters of the commission argue that threatening legal action over its Christian-leaning makeup is just another attempt by the left to pressure conservative institutions into abandoning traditional values.

This case isn’t just about committee membership — it’s about the ongoing battle over what “religious freedom” means in America. To the far-right, religious liberty is tied to the nation’s Judeo-Christian roots and the right of believers to live their faith without government interference. To the left, it’s a cudgel to enforce secular neutrality and champion every belief except those rooted in tradition.

Whether this lawsuit succeeds in court or not, one thing is clear: the culture war over faith, identity, and the First Amendment just moved into another arena.