A double standard could not be more clear — secular institutions receive leniency for egregious offenses, while Christian schools are crushed by the Department of Education (DOE). This federal agency intentionally targeted Christian schools with unprecedented fines. One of its direct victims is Liberty University (LU), the second-largest Christian university in America. The DOE threatened LU with a massive 37.5-million-dollar fine.

This is an unjust and outrageous penalty, and the evidence points to its intent to punish the school for its unwavering commitment to biblical values. But this isn’t just about Liberty University. This has spread to other Christian schools to force them to submit to the government’s agenda.

It is time to end the DOE and its stranglehold on our education, our children and grandchildren, and the damage it is inflicting on our nation’s future. Urge Congress to pass HR 899 to terminate the DOE.

This double standard could not be more clear — secular institutions receive leniency for egregious offenses, while Christian schools are crushed.

Consider the horrible situation at Michigan State University (MSU). When it failed to protect students from the monstrous crimes of former doctor Larry Nassar. Hundreds of young women and girls suffered at his hands while MSU and other institutions turned a blind eye. Despite this massive, years-long failure, MSU paid a mere 4.5 million-dollar fine in 2019. This is nowhere near what Liberty University is being forced to pay for technical violations.

This is the very definition of weaponized government. We cannot stand by while Christian schools are financially strangled.

Ryan Helfenbein of Liberty University pointed out that “many of the department’s methodologies, findings, and calculations were drastically different [for Liberty] from their historic treatment of other universities,” and Liberty “maintains that we have repeatedly endured selective and unfair treatment by the department.”

When speaking on background, a Department of Education official basically admitted Helfenbein was right, saying this penalty “is more than triple the largest fine ever imposed for violations of the Clery Act. And we think it sends a strong message.” After LU spent about 10 million dollars to update its systems, it still received a 14 million-dollar fine as well.

The DOE needs to be dismantled now. Under the DOE, test scores and student achievement have been dropping from ranking first in the world when the DOE was established to now ranking 31st worldwide.

As the infamous Soviet secret police chief Lavrentiy Beria once said, “Show me the man, and I’ll show you the crime.” This is precisely what we are witnessing — the targeting of a Christian institution with a double standard intended to cripple of eliminate it from future opportunities for this next generation simply because or its faith.

+ + The reason DOE was created by Jimmy Carter . . .

The DOE’s attack is not just against Christian education — it’s against ALL education that does not align with its radical worldview. The reason the DOE was started was because of a campaigning talking point by President Jimmy Carter to try to get teachers to vote for him.

Students are increasingly harmed since the DOE has been in operation. Test scores continue to plummet, and America’s global ranking in education is falling further behind.

The DOE has very little to do with education — it’s about a political agenda and federal control. The DOE, in partnership with powerful unions, is ensuring that parents have no voice, students have no choice, and Christian values are eliminated from our schools.

The DOE is corrupt, wasteful, and hostile toward religious freedom. If we do not act now, the next generation will inherit an education system that is completely broken — one that prioritizes political activism over academic excellence and government power over parental authority.

Liberty Counsel Action is standing on the front lines of this battle, fighting for your rights and for the future of our nation. But we cannot do it alone. We need your help for our ministry to expose this injustice, rally lawmakers, and ensure that HR 899 becomes law to terminate the DOE.

Thank you for your support. Together, we can protect Christian education, restore parental rights, and secure a future where faith and freedom thrive. 

Mat Staver, Chairman
John Stemberger, President
Liberty Counsel Action

TAKE ACTION

Don’t let the government’s war on Christian education go unchallenged! Fax Congress today and demand they support HR 899 to abolish the DOE.

Also sign our petition today.

Your donation today will help us continue this critical work. Give 25, 50, 100, or more to defend religious freedom and dismantle the corrupt DOE! 

Sources:

Anderson, Jill. “Unpacking the U.S. Department of Education: What Does It Actually Do?” Harvard Graduate School of Education, February 6, 2025. Gse.harvard.edu/ideas/edcast/25/02/unpacking-us-department-education-what-does-it-actually-do.

Moody, Josh. “Liberty University Fined $14 Million for Clery Violations.” Inside Higher Ed, March 5, 2024. Insidehighered.com/news/students/safety/2024/03/05/liberty-university-fined-14-million-clery-violations.

My Pay. My Say. Accessed March 20, 2025. Mypaymysay.com.

Pinedo, Peter. “Education Leaders Say Trump Dismantling Key Government Agency ‘Saved Education.’” Fox News, March 19, 2025. Foxnews.com/politics/education-leaders-say-trump-dismantling-key-government-agency-saved-education.

Walker, Jackson. “Teachers Union Boss Says Members ‘Don’t Really Care’ If Dept of Ed Is Abolished.” The National Desk, November 27, 2024. https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/teachers-union-boss-says-members-dont-really-care-if-dept-of-ed-is-abolished-randi-weingarten-aft-american-federation-of-teachers-donald-trump-administration-linda-mcmahon.