On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order expanding religious liberty protections at federal agencies.

“That’s a big one, that’s as big as it gets,” Trump said while speaking at a signing ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.

“This executive order directs the IRS not to unfairly target churches and religious organizations.”

President Trump detailed the two main objectives of the executive order: allowing church leaders to speak on political issues without being censored by the government, and striving to protect the conscience rights of faithful Americans.

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“This executive order directs the IRS not to unfairly target churches and religious organizations for political speech,” Trump said in his speech. “No one should be censoring sermons or targeting pastors.”

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“That is why I am signing today an executive order to defend the freedom of religion and speech in America, the freedoms that we wanted, the freedoms that you fought for so long,” Trump added.

Related: On National Day of Prayer, Americans Fight for Religious Freedom

The executive order was timed to be signed on the National Day of Prayer — and several faith leaders attended the Rose Garden ceremony.

“No American should be forced to choose between the dictates of the federal government and the tenants of their faith,” Trump said Thursday. “Faith leaders explained that they were prevented from speaking their minds because of a 1954 rule known as the Johnson amendment.”

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The Johnson Amendment prohibits religious nonprofits from endorsing or opposing political candidates at the risk of losing their tax-exempt status.

“I’d be out enjoying my life, I think, but it would be helping you with the Johnson amendment. To this end, this financial threat against the faith community is over,” Trump noted.

Related: Three Key Speculations About Trump’s Religious Executive Action

“That is why I am directing the Department of Justice to develop new rules to ensure these religious protections are afforded to all Americans,” Trump said. “There are more than 50 religious Americans and groups sued and you’ve seen that. For violating their religious freedom. The abuses were widespread. The abuses were all over,” Trump said.

The executive order essentially gives Attorney General Jeff Sessions, head of the Justice Department, discretion to enforce law.

“The Founders envisioned a Nation in which religious voices and views were integral to a vibrant public square, and in which religious people and institutions were free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or retaliation by the federal government,” the executive order says. “For that reason, the United States Constitution enshrines and protects the fundamental right to religious liberty as Americans’ first freedom.”