WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) led a group of Democratic Senators in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon warning against the Department’s participation in the hyper-partisan “America 250 Civics Education Coalition” in partnership with more than 40 conservative-aligned organizations, including Turning Point USA and the America First Policy Institute. In the letter, the Senators demand transparency to make sure this endeavor doesn’t violate current law that limits Federal involvement in directing education curriculum.
“We urge you to pause further expansion of the America 250 Coalition until a fully transparent, balanced, and legally sound framework is in place. We stand ready to work with you and colleagues across the aisle to craft a genuinely inclusive, high-quality, nonpartisan national civics initiative that is consistent with democratic principles and best educational practices,” wrote the Senators.
The letter was signed by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
As explained by an America First Policy Institute website, the America 250 Coalition runs programs such as tours, lectures, student competitions, teacher summits, and more in partnership with Secretary McMahon to bring civics education to classrooms and communities across all 50 states. Under the General Education Provisions Act, the federal government is prohibited from exercising “direction, supervision, or control over a school’s curriculum, program of instruction, or administration.” The Senators assert that any influence over items such as materials, guest speaker selections, or dissemination strategies would violate this statute.
In the letter, the Senators outline the Department’s already concerning history of disregarding federal prohibitions to advance ideological interests and undermining academic freedom and free speech, including giving priority to grant applicants based on “principles of a patriotic education.” The Senators ask Secretary McMahon to define “patriotic education” and explain how the Department will guard against the use of partisan content or messaging in classrooms.
Additionally, despite the Department’s claims to be celebrating the “renewal of civic learning,” the letter cites the Trump administration’s contradictions, including through moving forward a proposal that would lessen the number of federally funded opportunities for students to deeply engage in the complex history of our country.
The Senators are demanding transparency into how the Department will ensure equitable and diverse representation in decision-making and warn against the Coalition failing to honor the diverse perspectives in our nation’s history and embodying the inclusive, evolving democracy it claims to want to celebrate.The Senators write: “The public narrative around this coalition emphasizes “renewing patriotism” and “a shared understanding of America’s founding principles”, without sufficient acknowledgment of historical controversies, systemic injustices, or the diversity of American experience. Such framing can easily slip into glorification or sanitization, rather than balanced inquiry.”
The group is requesting a response from Secretary McMahon no later than February 23rd, 2026.
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