While Americans were focused on the weaponization of federal law enforcement and the justice system, the Biden administration was also quietly but ruthlessly weaponizing the U.S. Department of Education against Christian institutions as well. Those are the findings of a shocking new report by the pro-family group American Principles Project.
The numbers are shocking but hard to deny. According to new data obtained by APP, almost 70 percent of the Biden education bureaucracy’s “enforcement actions” targeted faith-based and career schools. For perspective, those categories represent less than 10 percent of students across the country.
Two of the nation’s largest and most important Christian institutions of higher education, Liberty University and Grand Canyon University, both found themselves in the crosshairs. The universities were hit with record-breaking fines totaling more than all other fines combined: Almost $38 million for Grand Canyon and $14 million for Liberty.
Both of those institutions, along with many other smaller ones, were targeted by a relatively unknown office within the Department of Education called the “Office of Enforcement.” The three primary tactics for “dismantling its targets” described in the APP report are huge penalties, “scrutinize and fine” investigations, and cutting off federal funds.
Grand Canyon University spokesman Bob Romantic expressed hope that change was coming. Officials there “look forward to an administration that, rather than using federal agencies to harass universities to which they are ideologically opposed, will reduce bureaucracy while applying regulations fairly and equitably,” he told The Center Square.
According to the report, at least 12 Christian colleges or universities were targeted by the Biden administration with “excessive penalties.” In some cases, students at those colleges have even been prohibited from receiving student aid. Not a single Ivy League school received similar treatment, researchers at APP reported.
The disparity in fines between Christian schools and non-Christian schools was also astounding. APP researchers, citing government data, found that the average fine for a “Clery Act” violation by a Christian school was $815,000. The average fine for similar violations by non-Christian institutions was less than $229,000.
“Using its scrutinize-and-sue tactics, the Department of Education can penalize and withhold federal aid to non-traditional schools,” the report warns. “When they go under, the administration can cancel students’ loan debt, making good on its campaign promise. And, of course, students then have fewer higher education options, cornering the market for conventional universities.”
Critics are now calling for drastic action by the incoming administration. “For the last four years, Democrats have been busy weaponizing every part of the federal government to target their opponents,” argued APP Policy Director Jon Schweppe, noting that the corrupt efforts of federal agencies went far beyond the U.S. Department of Justice.
“As our report details, the Biden-Harris Department of Education has been engaged in a long-running scheme to punish Christian colleges that are ideologically opposed to the left’s agenda,” he continued. “The unfair targeting of these institutions has been egregious, and it needs to stop immediately.
“During his first term, President Donald Trump deprioritized the Enforcement Office, and his next administration should eliminate it,” argued APP Policy Director Jon Schweppe, expressing hope that newly elected leaders would “end the Democrats’ years-long campaign to control and eliminate faith-based universities once and for all.”
Last year, the Biden administration increased funding for the “Office of Enforcement” by more than 600 percent, according to researchers. It was originally created during the Obama administration before being “deprioritized” during Trump’s first term and then super-charged by the Biden administration.
Unsurprisingly, the department did not respond to multiple requests for comment from media outlets about its targeting of Christian institutions. However, as the scandal grew, the department finally released a statement claiming a “school’s religious affiliation or non-profit status has absolutely no bearing on our oversight and enforcement actions.”
The Department of Education spokesman also accused the APP report of dishonesty. “Our top priority is protecting safety and academic opportunity for all students at institutions of higher education,” the spokesman said. “The data in the APP report itself pushes a false narrative by distorting information released publicly by the Department.”
The persecution of Christian institutions by the federal government shows the danger of allowing them to become dependent on public money. While Trump and Republican lawmakers may be able to rein in some of the lawlessness over the next few years, Democrats will resume their attacks as soon as they are able. Christians must prepare.
