Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission

U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan in New York dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Interfaith Alliance and several Hindu, Muslim and Sikh groups that alleged President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission violated a federal requirement for advisory bodies to reflect a balance of viewpoints. The judge said the law does not dictate a specific religious or ideological composition and that the president has wide discretion in appointing members.

Cronan noted that the commission includes clergy and laypeople representing at least five religions, and therefore meets the statutory criteria. The plaintiffs had argued the commission was dominated by conservative Christians and that its draft report calling for “bridges” between church and state ignored concerns such as anti‑Muslim attacks. The court found the complaint insufficient to proceed, leaving the commission’s makeup unchanged.