Federal Government Watch -
Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission Goes Off the Rails
by Clare M. Lopez
March 2026

President Donald Trump appointed the members of the U.S. Religious Liberty Commission in May 2025. We have written about some of its members previously, but here’s the latest:
 
“Religious liberty panel hearing on Jew-hatred at times digresses to discuss opposing Israel” by Andrew Bernard at the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), February 10, 2026
 
“WH fires member who hijacked antisemitism hearing to condemn Israel” by Or Shaked at Israel Hayom, February 12, 2026
  • Although she never should have been appointed to this Commission given her views about Jews and Israel, the White House made the right decision in firing her following her antisemitic comments. 
 
News of Note
 
“U.S. Army Paid Company Founded By Director Of Muslim Brotherhood-Linked Group For ‘Leadership’ Training” by Luke Rosiak at Daily Wire, February 16, 2026
  • The payments to a non-profit group called “Nonprofit Empowerment Group” were made between 2021-2025.  The contract has since been terminated.
 
“New ‘Palestinian’ Constitution Shows We’re Creating an Islamic Terror State” by Daniel Greenfield at Jihad Watch, February 18, 2026
  • Trump administration’s Board of Peace includes a slate of Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) to administer Gaza. Its new draft constitution shows all the reasons why it’s crucial to get better advice to admin officials – ASAP.
 
Jihad Comes for Syria’s Minorities
 
Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) Director Steven Emerson and former Congressman Frank Wolf have teamed up to publish a 4-part series on what is happening to Syria’s minorities under the jihad rule of Ahmed al-Sharaa.
 
Part 1: “The silent genocide of Syria’s minorities: The betrayal of the Kurds” by Steven Emerson and Frank Wolf at Jewish News Syndicate, February 16, 2026
  • Not that what’s happening to the Kurds in Syria is anything but a U.S. betrayal but keep an eye on U.S. support to Iraqi/Iranian Kurds as they move to take on whatever’s left of the Iranian regime.
 
Part 2: “The silent genocide of Syria’s minorities: A country being emptied” by Steven Emerson and Frank Wolf at Jewish News Syndicate, February 16, 2026
 
Part 3: “The silent genocide of Syria’s minorities: Diplomatic treachery and media malpractice” by Steven Emerson and Frank Wolf at Jewish News Syndicate (JNS)”, February 16, 2026
  • The role of U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Envoy to Damascus Tom Barrack comes in here for pointed criticism of his role in shielding the al-Sharaa regime from accountability for ‘sieges, massacres, forced displacement and systematic elimination of minority life’ in Syria.
 
“Part 4: “The silent genocide of Syria’s minorities: A documentary call to act” by Steven Emerson and Frank Wolf at Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), February 16, 2026 
  • This final segment of the 4-part series includes a link to a 4-minute video ‘that chronicles the harrowing systemic persecution of vulnerable minority religious populations by’ Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Damascus regime.
 
Now for some of the recent good news and well-earned kudos for the Trump administration!
 
“Trump Designates Branches of Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organizations – The Progenitor of ISIS, al-Qaeda, and Hamas” by Antonio Graceffo at Gateway Pundit, February 23, 2026
 
“Congressional Hearing Discloses Republican Realism vs. Democratic Denial on Sharia” by Andrew Bostom at Front Page Magazine, February 23, 2026
  • Andrew Bostom’s account of the 10 February 2026 House Subcommittee on the Constitution hearing, entitled “Sharia-Free America: Why Political Islam and Sharia Law Are Incompatible with the U.S. Constitution”.
 
“At last! ONE elected representative has the raw courage to speak the unmitigated truth about Islam as a threat doctrine – THIS IS EPIC” by Rich Swier at DrRichSwier.com, February 4, 2026
  • Here is some well-deserved praise for Congressman Keith Self and Congressman Chip Roy and their role in convening the Sharia-Free America Caucus.
 
“EXCLUSIVE: ICE Arrests Foreign Terrorists Living in US” by Virginia Allen at the Daily Signal, January 26, 2026
  • Illegal terrorist aliens recently arrested by ICE include ‘members of al-Qaeda, ISIS, the Islamic Republic [sic] Guard Corps of Iran (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC), and MS-13’