A recent report from the American Principles Project (APP) reveals that nearly 70% of enforcement actions by the Biden administration’s Department of Education have targeted faith-based and career schools, which represent less than 10% of the student population. The findings have raised concerns about bias against religious institutions.
APP Policy Director Jon Schweppe criticized the administration, stating, “The Biden-Harris Department of Education has weaponized its power to target Christian colleges that disagree with their ideological agenda.”
Grand Canyon University (GCU) and Liberty University are among the schools facing record-breaking fines. GCU was hit with a $37.7 million penalty for allegedly misleading students about the cost of doctoral programs. This figure surpasses penalties issued to public universities for severe scandals, such as Penn State’s $2.4 million fine related to Jerry Sandusky’s abuse case.
The APP report highlights stark disparities in penalties, noting that Christian colleges face average fines of $815,000 for Clery Act violations, compared to $228,571 for public and private institutions. At least 12 Christian colleges have also been barred from receiving federal student aid.
The Department of Education denies any bias, claiming that religious affiliation has no influence on enforcement decisions. However, GCU recently won a legal battle against the department when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that it unlawfully denied the university’s nonprofit status.
Critics argue these actions reflect a broader agenda to silence faith-based institutions. The findings have reignited calls to protect religious schools from what many see as politically motivated enforcement.
