Churches can now speak freely on politics without risking tax-exempt status—but politicians may exploit this to access pulpits and influence.
Effective July 7, 2025, the IRS has formally updated its enforcement posture regarding the Johnson Amendment, effectively ending restrictions on political speech by churches and religious leaders during worship services. In a settlement agreement filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas, the IRS clarified that it will not enforce the Johnson Amendment against churches for faith-based political commentary shared with their congregations through customary channels during regular services.
This shift stems from a lawsuit brought by the National Religious Broadcasters Association and others, who claimed the amendment violated First Amendment protections of free speech and free exercise of religion. The Johnson Amendment — a 1954 tax provision championed by then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson — had prohibited 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates.
The Johnson Amendment was originally introduced to silence nonprofit organizations that were critical of Johnson during his 1954 reelection campaign. It was quickly passed by Congress without hearings or debate and inserted into the tax code as a way to prohibit 501(c)(3) organizations from engaging in political endorsements or opposition. While it was broadly applied, enforcement was rare and selective, often depending on political pressures and shifting IRS guidance. For decades, religious leaders have challenged its constitutionality, arguing that it unfairly restricts their ability to speak freely on political matters from a moral or theological perspective.
While enforcement of the Johnson Amendment has been rare in the past, the legal filing cements a significant policy change, offering formal clarity that pastors may now endorse or oppose candidates from the pulpit without jeopardizing their church’s tax-exempt status, provided the speech occurs during religious services through normal communication channels and is framed in a religious context.
Nationwide Implications
Although the court’s ruling was specific to the plaintiffs in this Texas-based case, the IRS’s new position appears to extend nationwide. In practice, this means churches across the country can now speak more freely about electoral politics without fearing IRS penalties. However, other 501(c)(3) nonprofits — such as charities, schools, or secular advocacy groups — are still bound by the original restrictions of the Johnson Amendment.
This dramatic reversal comes after years of growing tension between religious leaders and the federal government. Former President Donald Trump made repeal of the Johnson Amendment a central plank of his faith outreach, declaring in 2017, “I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution.” That vision has now become, at least in part, a legal reality.
What It Means for Tennessee
For Tennessee — a state with a Republican supermajority and deep evangelical roots — the implications are particularly significant. State-level establishment Republicans, many of whom have long branded themselves as “conservative Christians,” now have a clearer path to seek endorsements from prominent pastors across the state.
And yet, many of these same lawmakers have overseen or supported legislation that undermines core conservative principles, from big-government spending to government overreach during the COVID-19 era. Despite holding the reins of power, the Tennessee General Assembly has failed to advance policies that align with true America First, constitutional conservatism.
With this shift in the law, establishment politicians will likely move quickly to secure the backing of influential pastors — not necessarily because of shared values, but because of the political leverage such endorsements provide. This is especially concerning in counties like Williamson, where voter turnout in Republican primaries remains astonishingly low — often well under 20% of the electorate.
These low-turnout environments make it easy for well-funded incumbents to coast through primaries with the help of just a few key endorsements from large churches; and Democrat crossover votes. Meanwhile, grassroots conservatives are outspent, outmaneuvered, and often ignored — not because their ideas are unpopular, but because too few voters show up to change the outcome.
🗣️ Call to Action: Engage Your Pastor
As we approach a pivotal election year in Tennessee — one that includes races for governor, Congress, state legislature, and county commissions — now is the time to act.
If you understand the legislative record of Tennessee’s Republican supermajority and recognize where it has fallen short of conservative values, schedule a conversation with your pastor. These church leaders, now more than ever, will be courted by establishment figures seeking to present themselves as “MAGA conservatives.”
Don’t assume your pastor knows the whole story. Be the one who tells it. Share the truth. Offer documentation. Connect the dots between campaign slogans and actual votes.
This is not about partisanship. It’s about principle. It’s about ensuring that those who speak from the pulpit do so with full knowledge of who they’re empowering — and what that empowerment could mean for the direction of our state and country.
TruthWire will continue monitoring this story and tracking the ways this legal shift is leveraged — and by whom — in the months to come. If you have tips or examples of local pastors being approached for endorsements, or if you're organizing conversations in your community, we want to hear from you.
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