A new report by the American Principles Project (APP) accuses the Biden administration's Department of Education of disproportionately targeting Christian and vocational schools through enforcement actions. The findings claim that 70% of penalties issued by the Department's Office of Enforcement were directed at these institutions, even though they represent less than 10% of college enrollments.
"The Department has targeted Christian colleges and universities with baseless accusations, sensationalized public-opinion campaigns, and egregious penalties-with the goal of shutting down these schools, which do not comport with the administration's 'woke' agenda," said APP Director of Policy Jon Schweppe, who authored the report.
The report highlights record fines imposed on Liberty University and Grand Canyon University as evidence of bias. Together, the penalties totaled $51.7 million, exceeding the combined value of all enforcement actions by the Department of Education over the past seven years.
Schweppe compared the $14 million fine against Liberty University-allegedly for failing to follow crime-reporting procedures under the Clery Act-with fines against public universities involved in high-profile abuse scandals. "Michigan State University was fined $4.5 million in 2019 for failing to report sexual abuses by former team doctor Larry Nassar," Schweppe noted. "In 2016, Penn State University was fined $2.4 million for failing to report 11 'serious findings of non-compliance' related to the school's handling of Jerry Sandusky's sexual misconduct."
Schweppe further emphasized the stark differences in enforcement, claiming the administration uses federal power to punish Christian schools disproportionately. "The unfair targeting of these institutions has been egregious, and it needs to stop immediately," he said.
The Department of Education has denied the allegations, insisting that its enforcement actions are not influenced by a school's religious affiliation or non-profit status. "A school's religious affiliation or non-profit status has absolutely no bearing on our oversight and enforcement actions," a Department spokesperson said. "Our top priority is protecting safety and academic opportunity for all students at institutions of higher education."
However, the APP report points to what it claims is a broader pattern of bias. According to the report, while the average fine for violations of campus crime laws among public and private colleges was $228,571 over the past decade, the average fine for Christian schools was $815,000.
Schweppe has described the enforcement actions as a form of ideological warfare. "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 said.
The allegations come as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office with promises to overhaul or even dismantle the Department of Education. "We want federal education dollars to follow the student, rather than propping up a bloated and radical bureaucracy in Washington, D.C.," Trump said in October.
In Congress, Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to abolish the Department of Education entirely, arguing it has overstepped its role in federal governance. "There is still a need for Congress to take action and demand answers," said Schweppe, who called for oversight hearings and subpoenas to investigate the Department's actions.
