BRIEFING ROOM

President Donald Trump celebrated this week after the IRS filed a motion that would allow religious leaders to endorse political candidates from the pulpit, without risking their institution’s tax-exempt status. This move dangerously erodes the wall separating religion from government and edges us closer to a theocracy.

“God is once again welcomed back into our public square,” Trump declared.

At the heart of this IRS effort is to dismantle the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 law passed during the McCarthy era, to prevent houses of worship from becoming tools of political influence. That period was marked by fears over loyalty, ideology, and political overreach. The amendment sought to keep politics out of the pulpit, preserving the integrity of both institutions. Removing it opens the door to a larger flow of more unregulated dark money. Houses of worship could become vehicles for campaign financing while also being exempt from taxes and transparency.

Since taking office, Trump has consistently worked to blur the line between church and state. Earlier this year, he signed an executive order creating a task force under Attorney General Pam Bondi to “eradicate anti-Christian bias” within the federal government. He provided no examples to support this broad mandate. The concern is that this task force could be used as a political and religious witch hunt.

One of JAC’s core principles is safeguarding the separation of church and state. When we were founded over 40 years ago, the rise of the Christian right in the Republican Party increasingly threatened religious freedom, especially for the Jewish community. We've always supported candidates who believe that religious beliefs should never control public policy.

Today, religion is being weaponized to deny people healthcare, employment, and access to government services. It is a targeted effort that disproportionately harms LGBTQ+ individuals, women, religious minorities, and the non-religious.

The line between church and state has never been more fragile. When that wall crumbles, so does the freedom we rely on.

Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-WI) ushered in one of the darkest chapters in our history, marked by fear-mongering, conspiracy theories, blacklists, and political retribution. The echoes of that era feel disturbingly familiar today.

Elections give us the power to shape history, NOT repeat it. Let’s ensure the next chapter is one of religious freedom, inclusion, and tolerance, free from political interference. 

Elections have consequences.