To paraphrase Alexei Navalny, while some folks this holiday season are saying “Ho-Ho-Ho!” we’re saying “Oh-Oh-Oh!” in anticipation of the incoming Trump administration.
At the FFRF Action Fund, we’ve been a bunch of busy elves getting ready for the challenges ahead. In this holiday edition of “Mark on the Hill,” I wanted to “sleigh” through and talk with you about how we’re preparing to greet the new administration.
Strengthening Allies in Congress: Right after the election, Rep. Jared Huffman, co-chair of the Congressional Freethought Caucus and the new ranking member on the House Natural Resources Committee, appeared on “Freethought Matters” to share his post-election thoughts on the Trump administration, the Project 2025 Task Force and strategies for challenging the incoming administration. He’s in this fight with us, and his influence will continue to increase in the next Congress, as well as that of fellow Congressional Freethought Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Jamie Raskin, who has been named the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee. When the new Congress is seated on Jan. 3, we’ll be up on the Hill with our secular and religious allies to strengthen relationships with the current caucus members and meet with prospective new members.
Religious Freedom Executive Order and the Comstock Act: We expect President Trump to issue a sweeping executive order on religious liberty within 72 hours of taking office — granting even more religious exemptions than his May 2017 order, thanks to recent court rulings. We anticipate that regulations stemming from the executive order, which directly threaten the separation of state and church, will rapidly emerge. To help our supporters and advocates weigh in on these crucial issues, we’ve created a brief sheet explaining the importance of regulations, their impact on your life and on the separation between government and religion — and how you can raise your voice.
Furthermore, Trump is likely to dispute the Biden administration’s reading of the zombie 1873 law known as the Comstock Act, and insist that it is enforceable law. Trump’s action could allow federal authorities to interfere in the shipping of anything related to an abortion, including medicine for medical abortions such as mifepristone, or any items needed to run an abortion clinic. There will be plenty of opportunities to weigh in on regulations and other executive actions in 2025. Sign up HERE to get involved.
Budget Reconciliation: The GOP’s go-to tool for advancing its legislative wishlist is budget reconciliation. Through budget reconciliation, legislation only requires a simple majority to pass in the Senate instead of the usual 60 votes. Items included in the reconciliation package must have a direct impact on the budget and can only be used selectively, once every fiscal year for taxes, expenses and the debt ceiling. The budget reconciliation package could include repealing the Johnson Amendment (barring tax-exempt entities such as churches from using their resources for political purposes), as well as funding school vouchers, since those measures could have an impact on the budget. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this process, and working with our allies to defend the separation of state and church during the legislative process.
Nominations: FFRF Action Fund is opposing several Trump nominees who are unabashed Christian nationalists, such as Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, Russ Vought for the Office of Management and Budget, and numerous others. We’re also opposing nominees who will promulgate rules and regulations that run counter to FFRF Action Fund’s mission and are against science and reason-based policymaking, such as Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services. We will be working closely with our allies at the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights to oppose many of these nominations.
Some nominees, such as Russ Vought (who authored part of Project 2025), may have less well-known positions but would still play a major role in carrying out Trump’s Christian nationalist agenda. We are developing a quick reference guide about the Office of Management and Budget and how Vought will be the chief enforcement officer to implement Project 2025. FFRF Action Fund is working with a steadfast group of like-minded organizations to oppose this dangerous nomination.
Judges: Thanks to Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, there will be several more open judicial slots that Trump will be able to fill. The battle over judges is going to be intense. Again, we will be working in coalition with the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights to oppose nominees who bring Christian nationalist ideas to the bench and undermine the separation of state and church. We expect the preliminary slate of district and circuit court judges to appear in the first few weeks of the Trump presidency. Unfortunately, there is a high likelihood that during the Trump presidency, there may be openings on the Supreme Court that we will oppose. We will need your help in working with your elected leaders to oppose Trump’s judicial nominations.
National Prayer Breakfast: On Feb. 6, the National Prayer Breakfast will return to the Capitol or its environs, and we’ll be working with our secular and religious allies to decrease congressional support. Last year, the Equality Caucus, led by Congressional Freethought Caucus member Rep. Mark Pocan, sent a letter to the Fellowship Foundation, the shadowy Christian nationalist group that has influenced the prayer breakfast and a key player in exporting LGBTQ-plus hate abroad. Pocan’s strong letter raised significant questions on the Hill about the event. We plan to collaborate with congressional allies next year and work with a coalition of like-minded organizations to oppose the breakfast.
2025 Elections: The American people are going to be able to weigh in on the direction of the Trump administration and the country in very short order. First up will be the Wisconsin Supreme Court election taking place April 1, which will be as nationally significant as the 2023 race electing Janet Protasiewicz. The outcome of the 2025 race will decide whether the state’s high court remains committed to reproductive rights and other democratic principles. FFRF Action Fund will be making a key endorsement and taking other measures in that race. The Fund plans to partner with critical organizations on the ground to help get out the vote and make sure that the Wisconsin Supreme Court maintains its very narrow 4-3, pro-separation of state and church majority. In 2025, there will be important races in New Jersey, Virginia and Louisiana, as well as numerous school board races where the Action Fund will be getting involved to get out the secular vote.
Plus, look for a dynamic new member of the Action Fund team who is going to enhance our work in the states. He’ll be focusing on identifying and advancing key legislative priorities, building coalitions in strategic states, and developing initiatives to counter Christian nationalism.
Warm wishes for a bright New Year,
Mark Dann
Director of Governmental Affairs
Freedom From Religion Foundation