U.S. gives teeth to policy of “Advancing International Religious Freedom”, assigns annual budget of $50 million

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday issued an Executive Order on “Advancing International Religious Freedom” in which he instructs Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. government sponsored humanitarian aid organization USAID to come up with a “plan to prioritize international religious freedom in the planning and implementation of United States foreign policy and in the foreign assistance programs of the Department of State and USAID.”

President Trump’s Executive Order stated that religious freedom is a primary American value and hence should be respected and vigorously upheld and promoted, domestically and abroad.  The U.S. President in his executive order further states that religious freedom is a moral and national security imperative for the United States and hence should have a priority in the foreign affairs of the world’s most powerful country. By this important step in elevating religious freedom to U.S. foreign policy by attaching direct and severe economic and sanctioning measures, the U.S. policy on religious freedom is getting teeth.

Also Read: USCIRF calls U.S. government to action: Assist Syriacs and Yazidis in Iraq in their fight for self-governance

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is a U.S. Congressional Commission tasked with monitoring, analyzing and reporting on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendation to the president, Secretary of State, and Congress. USCIRF Vice Chair Nadine Maenza called it a great step forward and  USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins welcomed the executive order stating:

“We applaud President Trump for continuing to prioritize international religious freedom as a national security imperative and a foreign policy priority. This Executive Order encourages swift action by the U.S. government to hold accountable foreign governments that commit severe violations and substantially increases U.S. economic assistance to support programs that advance religious freedom around the world.”

This new Executive Order signed by @POTUS to "prioritize international religious freedom in the planning and implementation of US foreign policy and in the foreign assistance programs of the Department of State and USAID" is a great step forward!https://t.co/W4AL7ezo0S

— Nadine Maenza (@nadinemaenza) June 2, 2020

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