A federal judge in Texas has rejected a proposed agreement between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and several Christian ministries that would have limited enforcement of restrictions on political speech from the pulpit—marking a significant moment in the ongoing debate over religious liberty and free expression.
In National Religious Broadcasters et al. v. Scott Bessent et al., U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker ruled Tuesday that the court lacked jurisdiction to approve the agreement, citing longstanding federal statutes including the Tax Anti-Injunction Act and the Declaratory Judgment Act.
The case centers on the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 provision that prohibits tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, including churches, from endorsing political candidates. Christian groups have increasingly challenged the law, arguing it places an unconstitutional burden on pastors and ministries seeking to address moral and civic issues from a biblical perspective.
Judge Barker emphasized that even though both the IRS and the plaintiffs supported the agreement, jurisdiction cannot be established by mutual consent. He noted that federal courts are barred from granting relief in matters directly tied to tax enforcement.