WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has issued a directive mandating that U.S. schools halt teaching materials related to what he terms “critical race theory” and other topics involving race and sexuality, warning that failure to comply could result in the loss of federal funds.
A different strategy unveiled on Wednesday aims to combat antisemitism on college campuses, with promises to take legal action against offenders and revoke visas for international students identified as “Hamas sympathizers.”
These initiatives were detailed in executive orders signed by Trump, reflecting several key campaign commitments centered on education. However, it remains uncertain how much authority he possesses to implement these measures.
In his order concerning K-12 education, Trump asserts that federal funding must not be allocated to what he characterizes as the “indoctrination” of students, specifically referencing “radical gender ideology and critical race theory.” The order cites civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination based on sex and race as tools for enforcement, labeling critical race theory as an “inherently racist policy.”
The White House references specific local policies, such as one from Harrisonburg City Public Schools in Virginia, which requires educators to respect students’ chosen names and pronouns. In a similar vein, Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin encourages teaching that “disrupts the gender binary” and supports varying gender identities, as outlined in the order.
Michael Richards, the superintendent of Harrisonburg schools, contested the notion of indoctrination, asserting that their district fosters a culture of respect that honors diversity. He emphasized his unwavering dedication to ensuring a safe environment for all students and staff.
The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights is tasked with investigating claims of civil rights violations and possesses the authority to impose sanctions—up to the potential for losing federal funds—though such extreme measures are rarely enacted and require judicial approval.
Critics, including Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, argue that the order unfairly maligns educators and complicates their professional duties. She expressed disappointment, claiming the Trump administration is creating fear and division in American classrooms.
Furthermore, Trump instructs the education secretary to devise a plan within 90 days aimed at eradicating “indoctrination” in K-12 education. Billionaire entrepreneur Linda McMahon has been appointed as education secretary, though her Senate confirmation hearing is not yet scheduled.
Throughout his campaign, Trump pledged to enact measures against schools promoting critical race theory or what he deems “inappropriate” content, noting that the federal government disburses billions in educational funding annually, while most school financing is sourced from state and local levels.
These initiatives resonate with a growing wave of conservative discontent regarding educational content that is perceived as overly liberal. An increasing number of Republican-controlled states have enacted laws and guidelines prohibiting critical race theory and comparable “divisive concepts” in public educational institutions.
Opponents contend that such regulations impose unclear limitations on teachers, stifling discussions on historical and critical topics. Conservative critics use the term “critical race theory” broadly to encompass various subjects they oppose in educational curricula, despite the reality that the term signifies a complex analytical framework examining systemic racism.
Trey Walk, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, argues for students’ rights to understand the mechanisms of discrimination embedded in legal and social frameworks, stating that withholding such information undermines efforts to combat racism.
On the subject of antisemitism, Trump’s proposed measures intend to mobilize all federal resources while tasking the Justice Department with investigating and taking action against offenders on college campuses. This would include deporting non-resident individuals who breach laws, referencing previous threats to revoke visas from international students who engage in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
This policy seeks to uphold “law and order,” curb pro-Hamas activities, and address anti-Jewish sentiment in left-leaning academic institutions. It has faced immediate pushback from civil rights advocates, who point out that most campus demonstrations have been peaceful and are protected under the right to free speech.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, national deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, criticized the approach as discriminatory and misleadingly labels protestors as “pro-jihadist” or “pro-Hamas.” He emphasized that the students involved represent a diverse array of backgrounds and were simply advocating against what they perceived as humanitarian crises.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has fueled impassioned protests on U.S. campuses, leading to considerable unrest, with reports of roughly 3,200 arrests during a series of incidents. In response to the turmoil, the Biden administration has launched over 100 investigations into potential antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents in educational institutions since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel.
Prior to Trump’s reinstatement of the 1776 Commission, which aims to foster “patriotic education,” the Biden administration had reversed an order and its associated guidelines that had been heavily criticized for minimizing the historical relevance of slavery and reducing the civil rights movement’s impact. Historians widely condemned the commission’s previous output as outdated and out of touch with extensive historical research.
