Report finds investigations focused on conservative Christian congregations while identifying limited action toward others under the same tax provision.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A Justice Department task force has concluded that enforcement of a federal tax provision governing political activity by nonprofits was applied unevenly during the Biden administration, with investigators citing a pattern of scrutiny directed at certain religious organizations.
According to a report highlighted by Just the News, the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias found what it described as a “stark contrast” in how the Internal Revenue Service enforced the Johnson Amendment among churches.
2026 Task Force Report Eradicating Anti Christian Bias Within the Federal Government 508 0 by yourNEWS Media
“The Biden IRS … [opened] multiple investigations into Christian churches focused on the content of their sermons. The IRS asked these churches for detailed information about their operations, not just about the alleged violations,” the task force stated in its findings.
The report also noted that during the same period, “when other houses of worship gave sermons that reflected different scriptural interpretations on culture war issues, or prayed for Democrat candidates, the Biden IRS appeared to take no action.”
The task force was created by Donald Trump through an executive order and reviewed materials from 17 federal agencies, including internal discussions, case files, and prosecutorial decisions.
In addition to IRS enforcement practices, the task force concluded in a separate review that broader federal actions during that period reflected what it described as anti-Christian bias across multiple agencies.
“No American should live in fear that the federal government will punish them for their faith,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who chaired the task force, in a statement published by the Justice Department here. “As our report lays out, the Biden Administration’s actions devastated the lives of many Christian Americans. That devastation ended with President Trump.”
The Johnson Amendment prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches classified under 501(c)(3), from endorsing or opposing political candidates. The Justice Department noted the provision has historically been enforced inconsistently.
The report cited several examples of IRS inquiries during the Biden administration. In one case, a Florida church was investigated after hosting a local school board candidate who spoke to congregants and received a prayer. The IRS requested information about attendance, the purpose of the visit, and whether similar events had occurred. The inquiry was ultimately dropped after the church declined to provide further information on legal advice.
Another case involved a Missouri congregation that shared information online about local candidates’ policy positions and encouraged civic participation. The IRS requested clarification about potential political activity, including whether voting guides were distributed or candidates invited to speak. That investigation was also later dismissed.
According to the task force, even when cases did not result in enforcement actions, the investigative process itself had an impact on the churches involved, with some pastors describing the inquiries as punitive.
The review also referenced enforcement actions involving other Christian organizations, including the assessment of excise taxes following sermons that addressed political party platforms.
In contrast, the task force said it found no evidence of comparable investigations into organizations it categorized as holding differing political viewpoints, including instances where religious leaders publicly supported Democratic candidates. The report cited a 2020 instance in which more than 1,600 faith leaders endorsed a Democratic presidential candidate, referencing documentation available here.
“At a minimum, there are questions with respect to the evenhandedness of the enforcement of the Johnson Amendment against particular viewpoints,” the task force concluded, adding that the pattern created “the appearance of disfavoring congregations and pastors” whose views did not align with certain political positions.
The report also examined actions across other federal agencies, including law enforcement, education, and health policy, outlining additional concerns related to religious liberty enforcement during the period under review.
Officials said the findings are part of ongoing efforts to evaluate federal policies and ensure consistency in the application of laws affecting religious organizations.
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