Trump's week in review: Kennedy Center closure; meeting with Armenian church leaders
1. Trump appoints Billy Graham's granddaughter for top religious freedom post
Throughout the week, Trump took steps to fill vacancies for positions created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
On Monday, he nominated Cissie Graham Lynch, daughter of the Rev. Franklin Graham and granddaughter of the late televangelist Billy Graham, to serve as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. The diplomatic post has remained vacant for the entirety of Trump’s second term. Lynch’s nomination is subject to approval from the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate.
Meanwhile, Trump made three appointments to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Wednesday. USCIRF, an independent bipartisan agency, is tasked with monitoring religious freedom conditions abroad.
The commission has three commissioners appointed by the president for two-year terms and six commissioners appointed by congressional leaders from each political party. Unlike the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom position, USCIRF commissioner appointments are not subject to congressional approval and are volunteer positions.
One of Trump’s picks to serve as a USCIRF commissioner, Bishop Robert Barron, leads the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota and also served on Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission. Another USCIRF commissioner selected by Trump, Pastor Andrew Brunson, is best known for his missionary work in Turkey. He was imprisoned there for two years on false charges of espionage. Trump secured Brunson’s release during his first term in office.
Trump’s third pick to serve on USCIRF, Joe Grogan, previously served as director of the U.S. Domestic Policy Council. USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood praised the nomination of Lynch and the appointments of new USCIRF commissioners as “a vital step in advancing the human right of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) abroad,” adding, “Filling these roles demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the United States to international religious freedom as a priority in foreign policy.”
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
