In God We Trust Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2736
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-09: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-04T21:58:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "In God We Trust Act," aims to mandate the prominent display or inscription of the United States' national motto—"In God We Trust"—on all federal public buildings. This is intended to promote visibility of the motto as a symbol of national heritage.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The Act is officially named the "In God We Trust Act."
- Definition: A "public building" is defined as any federally owned or leased structure used for public purposes, per existing U.S. Code (section 3301(a) of title 40).
- Requirement: The Administrator of General Services (head of the agency managing federal properties) must ensure the national motto is inscribed or displayed in a prominent location on every public building.
- Timeline: Implementation must occur no later than one year after the bill's enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This introduces a new federal mandate for displaying the national motto on all public buildings, which was not previously required by law. While "In God We Trust" has been the official motto since 1956 (per section 302 of title 36, U.S. Code), its placement on buildings has been optional or inconsistent until now.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The General Services Administration (GSA) will bear the responsibility and costs for inscribing or displaying the motto, potentially involving renovations, signage, or maintenance on thousands of buildings nationwide.
- On Citizens: Increases public exposure to the motto during visits to federal sites (e.g., post offices, courthouses), which may reinforce cultural or patriotic sentiments but could also spark debate among diverse populations.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it may symbolize U.S. values in diplomatic or consular buildings abroad.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government Agencies: Primarily the GSA, which oversees building management; other agencies occupying public buildings may need to coordinate.
- Federal Employees and Building Users: Staff and visitors to federal sites will encounter the motto more uniformly.
- General Public: Taxpayers funding implementation; religious, cultural, or secular groups who may view the motto through different lenses (e.g., as inspirational or controversial).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on existing law recognizing "In God We Trust" as the national motto but enforces its physical presence, potentially leading to compliance challenges or lawsuits over implementation details.
- Constitutional: References to God in the motto have been upheld by courts as ceremonial or historical (not endorsing religion), avoiding First Amendment violations under the Establishment Clause (which prohibits government favoritism of religion). However, it could invite challenges from groups arguing it promotes religious symbolism in public spaces.
- Political: Introduced by Senator Hawley (R-MO) and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, it reflects efforts to emphasize traditional American symbols amid cultural debates, but no partisan enforcement mechanisms are specified.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-09: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 2025-09-09: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- In God We Trust Act — issued 2025-09-09 — PDF (2 pages)