Trump's week in review: Clergy Act signed; $42M in SNAP fraud uncovered

3. Trump signs law letting clergy who left Social Security opt back in

Trump signed several bills into law Tuesday, including H.R. 227. Known as the Clergy Act, the legislation passed the Senate unanimously, and only five members of the House voted against it.

The measure gives “a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister of a church, a member of a religious order, or a Christian science practitioner” a two-year window, from Jan. 1, 2029, to Dec. 31, 2030, to revoke their exemption from Social Security coverage.

In a statement celebrating the bill’s passage, its sponsor, Rep. Vince Fong, R-Calif., said the legislation allows “pastors and other clergy members who previously opted out of Social Security to voluntarily opt back in and begin contributing to their financial future.”

According to Fong’s office, “Some pastors opted out decades ago, often due to inaccurate advice, only to later face significant financial hardship. Under previous law, this opt-out was permanent.”

D. Hance Dilbeck Jr., president and CEO of GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, praised the measure for providing “an additional option for many ministers as they prepare for retirement.”

Michael Martin, president and CEO of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, called it a “breath of fresh air for many servant leaders who may feel trapped by a decision they did not fully understand as they began their pastoral work.”