A report from the American Principles Project (APP) reveals that nearly 70% of enforcement actions by the Biden administration’s Department of Education have been directed at faith-based and career schools, which serve less than 10% of U.S. students. The findings have sparked accusations of ideological targeting against Christian institutions.
APP Policy Director Jon Schweppe criticized the administration for what he described as a coordinated attack. “Democrats have been busy weaponizing every part of the federal government to target their opponents,” Schweppe said. He accused the Department of Education of engaging in a “long-running scheme to punish Christian colleges that are ideologically opposed to the left’s agenda.”
Two prominent Christian universities, Grand Canyon University (GCU) and Liberty University, have faced record-breaking fines under the administration’s scrutiny. GCU was hit with a $37.7 million penalty last year over allegations of misleading students about doctoral program costs. Liberty University also faced significant fines that dwarfed penalties imposed on institutions like Penn State and Michigan State for their roles in high-profile sexual abuse scandals.
The APP report also found that at least 12 Christian colleges have been heavily penalized or banned from receiving federal student aid, while no Ivy League school has faced similar punitive actions. The average fine against Christian institutions for Clery Act violations was $815,000, compared to just $228,571 for public and private schools.
Critics say these figures reflect bias against faith-based schools. The Department of Education, however, denies targeting religious or nonprofit institutions. A spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “A school’s religious affiliation or non-profit status has absolutely no bearing on our oversight and enforcement actions.”
The report comes as GCU recently won a legal battle over its nonprofit status. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Department of Education unlawfully applied an incorrect standard in denying the school recognition, further fueling allegations of unfair treatment.
The findings have intensified calls for an end to what critics see as an ideologically driven assault on Christian colleges.
