President Donald Trump will issue an executive order on Thursday making it easier for churches and religious groups to take part in politics without risk of losing their tax-exempt status, a senior White House official said.
The order, which will also declare it the policy of the Trump administration to “protect and vigorously promote religious liberty,” aims to get around a provision of the federal tax code known as the Johnson Amendment prohibiting religious organizations from directly opposing or supporting political candidates.
The order “will direct the IRS to exercise maximum enforcement discretion to alleviate the burden of the Johnson amendment, which prohibits religious leaders from speaking about politics and candidates from the pulpit,” the official said.
However, “we’re not actually in the executive order stating what the specific details of that relief will be,” the official added.
The move, meant to mark the National Day of Prayer, will also make it easier for company owners to act in accordance with their religious beliefs — such as refusing to pay for contraceptives — under the Affordable Care Act.
