The U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom is the United States government's highest civilian honor.
October 14, 2025
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Definition and status of the Presidential Medal of Freedom within U.S. honors.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom can be awarded posthumously.
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Permissible practice for awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
As of 2025-10-14, approximately 670 people had been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom since its inception, according to the Congressional Research Service.
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Cumulative count of Medal of Freedom recipients reported by the Congressional Research Service.
Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom have included figures from broadcasting, sports, entertainment, and the judiciary, such as Rush Limbaugh, Tiger Woods, Elvis Presley, Babe Ruth, and Antonin Scalia.
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Examples illustrating the variety of fields represented among Medal of Freedom recipients.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States and is awarded by the President of the United States; the Congressional Medal of Honor is the United States military's highest honor.
October 12, 2025
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U.S. civilian and military honors
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the United States' highest civilian award.
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Description of a U.S. national civilian honor.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded at a president's discretion to individuals judged to have made an especially meritorious contribution to the national security of the United States, to world peace, or to other cultural or public endeavors.
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States the criteria commonly used to determine recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.