I visited the White House this week and had an incredible 3 1/2-hour inaugural briefing of President Trump’s Faith Office in the Indian Treaty Room with 40 other faith leaders. There are very exciting things happening in Washington, D.C., and we are thrilled to represent you and our shared values in the heart of what God is doing in our nation. — Mat 

The Department of Education (DOE) now has a new Faith Director. What a contrast because the DOE under Joe Biden launched outrageous attacks against Christian schools — hitting them with massive fines designed to force them to abandon their faith. 

The serious concerns go beyond failing public schools for 50 million public school students. This is about the future of our nation.

To protect the youth, we must restore religious freedom. We must get the federal government out of education and return control to the states and especially to parents through school choice. We must break the government monopoly. 

But the DOE is standing in the way. 

Tell Congress to end the DOE by supporting HR 899 and return the responsibility and resources locally where it can benefit the classrooms and expand school choice for the future of our nation.

There is a clear double standard at the DOE. Less than 10% of American students attend Christian universities; however, the DOE spent 70% of its time focusing on punishing these schools. On average, the fines against Christian schools are four times higher than what is levied against public universities.  

It is clear that the DOE is holding secular universities to a much lower standard than Christian schools. 

The DOE launched a shocking and unprecedented assault against Grand Canyon University (GCU). The DOE claimed GCU misled students about the costs of its doctoral programs. However, the truth is that a small number of students completed their theses within the expected time frame and cost, as advertised. But when students need more help to meet the standards for graduation, GCU continues to help them and charge them for that additional help. This is not fraud. It is providing additional services. 

For that, the nation’s largest Christian university was slammed with a 37.7 MILLION-DOLLAR FINE. A school spokesperson said the fine is part of a “disturbing pattern” by the DOE, because the school’s disclosures about costs were already upheld in court under a separate lawsuit. But that didn’t slow the DOE.

To put this fine in perspective, Pennsylvania State University received only a 2.4 million-dollar fine for its efforts spanning more than a decade of leadership intentionally helping cover up the Jerry Sandusky abuse scandal. 

The DOE is involved in a blatant, intentional effort to punish a thriving Christian institution that is standing firm in its faith. “This speaks volumes about their agenda-driven motivation to bring harm to the university and the coordinated efforts being taken against GCU,” the school said. 

At a House Appropriations Committee hearing last April, former DOE Secretary Miguel Cardona publicly vowed that he would shut down GCU.

The outrageous actions by the DOE run much deeper than shutting down GCU. If the DOE can weaponize financial penalties against one Christian university, they can do it to any Christian school. We cannot let this attack go unanswered!

The DOE needs to be terminated, and that is exactly what HR 899 will do by the end of 2026.

+ + Failing under the DOE . . .  

If the DOE wants to throw stones, let’s examine its record.  

Historically, the United States was a global leader in public education. Consistently, the “USA was ranked #1 in education during the early to mid-20th century,” according to the U.S. Education News.

However, since the establishment of the DOE under President Jimmy Carter in 1979, there has been a steady decline. In the 1980s, U.S. education rankings slipped into the top five, and this downward trend has continued, with rankings dropping approximately 5 percentage points each subsequent decade. As of 2024, the United States educational system is ranked 31st globally. It’s comparable to other countries ranking in the 30s, like Hungary, Greece, Turkey, and Mexico. 

This sharp decline underscores the DOE's failure to uphold educational standards while it spends our tax dollars to unjustly target Christian institutions like GCU. 

It is time to hold the DOE accountable with HR 899 and fully dismantle the DOE in 2026. Because the DOE was established by law, it should be terminated by law as well. President Trump cannot accomplish this alone. Both the White House and our ministry need your help to FLOOD Congress with your faxes demanding action be taken NOW.

Education freedom is essential for the future of America. Your support is crucial in this endeavor. By standing with us, you help protect institutions that respect and uphold Christian values and demand needed change to the opportunities offered to the next generation.

Mat Staver, Chairman
John Stemberger, President
Liberty Counsel Action

TAKE ACTION

Fax Congress to demand our legislators support HR 899 and terminate this attack on religious schools. 

Also sign our petition today. 

Together, we can Make Education Great Again! Stand with us by signing up for a recurring gift. And remember, our Challenge Grant will DOUBLE THE IMPACT OF YOUR GIFT. 

Sources:

“APP Study: Biden-Harris Admin Weaponized Education Office to Target Christian and Career Colleges.” American Principles Project, November 18, 2024. Americanprinciplesproject.org/media/app-study-biden-harris-admin-weaponized-education-office-target-christian-career-colleges/.

Binkley, Collin. “Largest Christian University in US Faces Record Fine after Federal Probe into Alleged Deception.” AP News, October 31, 2023. Apnews.com/article/grand-canyon-university-fine-college-6728cbbc74912d96f1cf1c192780ae96.

“Education Rankings by Country 2025.” World Population Review. Accessed March 19, 2025. Worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/education-rankings-by-country.

Nelson, Joshua Q. “New report shows nearly 70% of Biden admin's education enforcement targeted Christian and career colleges.” Fox News, November 28, 2024. Foxnews.com/media/new-report-shows-70-biden-administrations-education-enforcement-targeted-christian-colleges.

Tahsin, Tanzim. “US Education Ranking by Year.” US Education News, February 16, 2024. Useducationnews.com/us-education-ranking-by-year/#ranking-data-from-the-past-decades.