The Biden administration’s Department of Education has come under scrutiny after a report revealed that nearly 70% of its enforcement actions target faith-based and career schools. These institutions account for less than 10% of the U.S. student population, prompting allegations of bias and ideological targeting.
Jon Schweppe, Policy Director for the American Principles Project (APP), called the findings evidence of a broader campaign. “This administration has weaponized federal agencies to punish opponents of their ideological agenda,” he said.
Grand Canyon University (GCU) and Liberty University are among the schools subjected to severe penalties. GCU faces a $37.7 million fine for allegedly misleading students, a penalty far exceeding those imposed on public universities for high-profile scandals.
The APP report also found that Christian colleges face significantly higher fines for Clery Act violations compared to other schools. The average fine for Christian institutions was $815,000, while other colleges paid less than a third of that amount on average.
The Department of Education has denied claims of bias, asserting that religious affiliation does not influence enforcement actions. However, GCU recently won a court battle after the department unlawfully denied its nonprofit status, raising further questions about the administration’s motives.
This report has heightened concerns about the treatment of religious institutions under the current administration. Many are calling for greater accountability to ensure faith-based schools are not unfairly targeted.
