In December, the Religious Liberty Commission met for their fourth and final meeting of 2025. The first three meetings took place in Washington, D.C., but the fourth session was held in Dallas.
Writing about the commission’s first three meetings in an Americans United’s blog post, Public Policy Counsel Rachael Stryer questioned the venues used by the commission. She observed that the commission had perfectly suitable government offices to utilize for their 2025 sessions yet always refused to do so. For example, she noted how the commission could have used the Department of Justice’s D.C. headquarters, which has hosted similar events in its Great Hall. Yet, the Religious Liberty Commission’s first three meetings were all held at the Museum of the Bible — a privately owned museum founded by Steven Green, president of Hobby Lobby who, in his initial filings to the IRS, described the museum’s purpose as “to bring to life the living word of God, to tell its compelling story of preservation, and to inspire confidence in the absolute authority and reliability of the Bible.”
The commission’s choice for their fourth meeting was no better, as it was held at Old Parkland in Dallas. Described as “an exclusive investor enclave,” the venue is owned by Harlan Crow, who is perhaps best known for his relationship with and the extensive gifts he has given to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Following the commission’s Dallas meeting, AU Vice President of Public Policy Alessandro Terenzoni criticized efforts, on the part of witnesses for the commission, to misconstrue religious freedom in the military. He also observed that even though the session was dedicated to the military, many witnesses instead spent much time vilifying the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender people; talking about their religious objections to vaccine mandates; and voicing support for repealing the Johnson Amendment.
Nonetheless, two speakers did touch upon the issue of recognizing and protecting religious minorities in the military and the role of military chaplains — issues AU had previously raised in written comments to the commission. One of them, retired Capt. Sukhbir Singh Toor in the U.S. Marine Corps who is also a practicing Sikh, spoke about the religious accommodation he received to serve while wearing articles of faith — a beard, turban, and unshorn hair.
In September of last year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared, “No more beardos. The era of rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles is done.” Toor noted that a grave reversal of progress on religious inclusion would come about if grooming accommodations were no longer offered. He explained that his articles of faith never interfered with his service or his ability to lead his fellow Marines.