President Donald Trump signed three executive orders Wednesday aimed at overhauling the U.S. education system. These directives focus on eliminating perceived indoctrination in K-12 schools, addressing antisemitism on college campuses, and promoting school choice initiatives.
The first executive order, titled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” prohibits federal funding for schools that incorporate gender ideology and critical race theory into their curricula. It mandates the Attorney General to collaborate with state and local officials to take legal action against educators and school personnel involved in the sexual exploitation of minors or unauthorized medical practices related to social gender transitions. Additionally, the order reinstates the 1776 Commission, established during Trump’s first term, to promote patriotic education and counter divisive narratives concerning race and slavery.
In response to a surge in antisemitic incidents on college campuses following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, the second executive order directs the Department of Justice and the Attorney General to prosecute antisemitic crimes, including vandalism and intimidation. It also calls for investigations into anti-Jewish racism in leftist, anti-American colleges and universities. The administration plans to deport and revoke student visas for individuals found to be sympathetic to Hamas. Furthermore, all federal agencies are instructed to review and report any legal authorities they possess to address antisemitism within 60 days.
The third executive order focuses on expanding school choice. It directs the Department of Education to provide guidance on how states can support K-12 scholarship programs through federal funding formulas. The order prioritizes school choice in the department’s discretionary grant programs, which are currently under a spending review. Additionally, it requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance on utilizing block grant funds to support educational alternatives, including private and faith-based options and nonprofits.
These executive orders align with President Trump’s campaign promises to implement significant changes in the education sector, emphasizing parental choice, patriotic education, and the removal of specific ideological content from school curricula.
