Commission Hears Testimony from Veterans, Chaplains, and Advocates on Restoring Religious Rights in the U.S. Military
DALLAS, Texas — The Religious Liberty Commission convened its fourth public hearing this week, gathering servicemembers, chaplains, veterans, and legal experts to assess the state of religious freedom within the U.S. military. The day-long session focused on the history of religious expression in the armed forces, current threats facing men and women of faith, and recommendations to strengthen legal protections moving forward.
The Commission, created by President Donald Trump under Executive Order 14291, is tasked with documenting America’s religious liberty foundations, spotlighting present challenges, and proposing long-term strategies to safeguard religious expression nationwide.
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Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward emphasized the unique weight religious liberty carries for those in uniform. “Our servicemembers are heroes. They deserve this designation for many reasons, but perhaps the foremost is that they are entrusted with life and death matters,” he said. “For this reason, religious liberty and military service have a unique connection… Our goal is simple: to restore religious liberty to its rightful place as a fundamental pillar for generations to come.”
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who chairs the Commission, framed the hearing as part of an ongoing effort to address what he described as years of setbacks. “Our history is clear: since 1775, our country has encouraged religious liberty in the military… In 2012, the Obama administration, followed by the Biden administration, stripped the military of any religious right,” Patrick said. “President Trump believes in our soldiers and their religious liberty rights. Our Commission will make numerous recommendations to the President to restore all the religious liberties Obama and Biden took from our troops.”
A Wide Range of Voices Testify
Witnesses represented a broad spectrum of religious backgrounds, military roles, and legal perspectives:
- – Dave Barton, founder of WallBuilders, discussed historical precedents and the long tradition of faith within the ranks.
- – Brandon H. Wheeler, a Marine Corps combat veteran and strategist, offered personal reflections from service across more than 100 countries.
- – Capt. Sukhbir Singh Toor, USMC (Ret.), spoke about his efforts to secure accommodations for Sikh servicemembers to maintain their articles of faith while serving.
- – Blake Martin, a Navy SEAL veteran, recounted losing his retirement benefits after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds.
- – Kenny and Tammie Vaughan, founders of Shields of Strength, shared how religious dog tags—long worn for comfort by servicemembers—were effectively banned during the Obama administration.
- – Harish Rao, an Army officer and advocate for Hindu servicemembers, described securing religious accommodations during basic training and his pursuit of chaplaincy.
- – Mike Berry of First Liberty Institute, a Marine reservist and attorney, highlighted legal battles to defend servicemembers’ rights.
- – Rabbi Sanford L. Dresin, former Army chaplain and current VP of Aleph Military, drew from 26 years of chaplaincy service.
- – Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Doug Carver, former Army Chief of Chaplains, underscored the need for robust spiritual support across the armed forces.
- – Amy Vitale of Becket discussed legislative advocacy for military chaplains and religious freedom.
- – Msgr. Anthony Frontiero of the Archdiocese for the Military Services spoke on pastoral needs for Catholic servicemembers.
- – Pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress and Dr. Ben Lovvorn of First Baptist Dallas added perspectives on the role of faith communities in supporting military families.
- – Chaplain Dr. Andrew Fox, removed as Austin Fire Department chaplain after expressing Christian beliefs, shared the broader implications for public-sector chaplaincy.
- – Phyllis Morris of Sweetwater, Texas, described defending a public nativity display and the importance of local advocacy.
Why It Matters
Faith and service have long been intertwined in U.S. military tradition—from chaplaincy to battlefield prayer to religious accommodations for faith groups. The Commission’s hearings come after debate over vaccine mandates, uniform standards, and public religious expression.
For many witnesses, the hearing served as both a warning and a call to action, urging policymakers to reinforce constitutional protections across branches of the armed forces.
The Commission’s final report to the president will include policy recommendations aimed at strengthening religious expression, removing barriers to accommodation, and reaffirming the constitutional rights of servicemembers.
