The Johnson Amendment has been used to chill free speech in churches. The IRS finally changed the rule in a recent decision.

A reinterpretation of a tax rule signals that houses of worship may now be able to endorse political candidates without losing tax-exempt status.

The policy change reverses a ban on endorsing or opposing candidates by religious organizations known as the Johnson Amendment, enacted in the 1950s.

In a court filing submitted on Monday, July 7, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that it was changing a rule affecting churches — who, going forward, will be able to make political endorsements in the public without endangering their tax-exempt status.

By interpreting political discussions during worship as private conversations, the IRS creates a loophole that will lead to organizations seeking tax breaks in exchange for political support and introduce hidden sources of money into elections.

The Internal Revenue Service's recent declaration that it will not prohibit churches and pastors from endorsing political candidates has drawn praise from both progressive and conservative Christians,

Donald Trump has endorsed the IRS's recent decision to allow houses of worship to endorse political candidates without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status, potentially weakening the Johnson Amendment.

House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke about tax cuts in the "Big, Beautiful Bill" during an interview on "FOX News Sunday." "What we did in this bill is we made permanent the 2017 Trump tax cuts, and that was geared for lower- and middle-class Americans,

Comparing it to a family discussion, the Internal Revenue Service agreed on Monday that pastors and other religious leaders can endorse political candidates to their congregation without threatening