On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Education announced an initiative aimed at enhancing “patriotic education” within civics and history curricula—an objective that has been a hallmark of President Donald Trump’s administration, particularly during his first term. Trump has vocally criticized educational institutions for promoting what he perceives to be overly negative perspectives about the United States.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon highlighted patriotic education as a central focus for competitive grants, framing it as an approach that “emphasizes a unifying and uplifting portrayal of the nation’s founding ideals.”
In conjunction with this announcement, the Education Department introduced the America 250 Civics Coalition, comprising over 40 organizations tasked with developing educational programming as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary next year. Notable members of the coalition include the conservative America First Policy Institute, Hillsdale College, PragerU, and Turning Point USA. Recently, Turning Point co-founder Charlie Kirk was tragically assassinated.
“A genuine understanding of American values, the relentless effort to live up to them, and the country’s unique position in global history will foster informed patriotism and a love for our nation,” McMahon stated.
These initiatives place the Trump administration’s Education Department deeper into the ongoing national discourse regarding the portrayal of America’s complex past in schools and the roles students should play in shaping its future.
The debate over what values should be instilled through history and civics education has been contentious for decades. Educators and policymakers have long grappled with whether students should embrace narratives of American exceptionalism or critically examine instances where the nation has faltered in living up to its foundational principles. Recently, these discussions have gained renewed urgency in public forums.
During his initial term, Trump established the 1776 Commission in response to the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent racial reckoning across various American institutions, including education. The commission released a report in 2021, asserting that the rise of identity politics and anti-American sentiments had skewed historical portrayals. Concurrently, numerous states began implementing legislation to limit the ways educators could address issues of racism and sexism in the classroom, with 20 states enacting such measures since 2021.
Now, the Education Department has underscored civics as a critical priority, pledging over $160 million in American history and civics grants—an unprecedented investment in a field that has historically faced funding challenges.
Penny Schwinn, a former state education chief currently serving as chief strategist in the Education Department, asserted at a civics conference in Washington that the federal government should establish a “national mandate” ensuring every student in the country achieves proficiency in civics.
She emphasized that this mandate should be supported by dedicated funding, the removal of regulatory barriers that limit flexibility, and accountability measures for states and schools to meet specific objectives.
However, not all social studies programs align with the administration’s vision. Recently, 19 out of approximately 26 recipients of federal American History and Civics grants expecting renewed funding received notices indicating non-continuation. One impacted recipient focused on training future educators to teach about Black, Mexican, and LGBTQ+ histories.
Education Department highlights civic knowledge, ‘American values’
Civics education is largely considered a bipartisan priority, though discussions on its instructional approach often divide along political lines.
Many Republican state lawmakers have criticized pedagogical methods that encourage students to engage in local problem-solving or to communicate directly with their elected representatives, a practice known as “action civics.” For instance, Texas legislators banned assignments requiring “direct communication” between students and officials in 2021.
Instead, GOP lawmakers have advocated for an expansion of students’ civic knowledge—focusing on foundational documents and fostering a sense of civic pride.
In recent years, national education organizations have sought to create guidelines that balance the need for civic knowledge with the development of civic dispositions.
However, the Education Department’s initiatives appear to favor an emphasis on the nation’s founding principles and what McMahon referred to as “American values.”
“Celebrating the 250th anniversary is a commendable goal, and we appreciate initiatives that engage the nation in this commemoration. Nonetheless, the membership of this coalition seems predominantly to represent one political perspective,” stated Louise Dubé, CEO of iCivics, a nonprofit focused on civic education, in an email.
“We are aware of several high-quality initiatives that are not currently represented in this coalition. We hope that as an open coalition, it will invite a broader range of perspectives, allowing us as a nation to engage in reflective patriotism during this pivotal time.”
For the patriotic education grant priority, a notice published in the Federal Register outlines proposed themes that will guide future grant allocations. These include projects that enhance understanding of founding documents, the impact of Western civilization, “the role of faith,” and a “clear examination of how the United States has admirably progressed toward its noble principles throughout history.”
Under these proposed priorities, any organization offering foundational constitutional education could potentially secure funding, according to Donna Phillips, executive director of the Center for Civic Education, a nonprofit based in Maryland.
“There is much work to be done in civic education, and beginning with our foundational principles is as good a place as any to start,” Phillips remarked.
