Trump executive order goes after critical race theory, gender ideology in schools

President Trump signed an executive order Wednesday that bars schools from teaching critical race theory and gender issues or risk losing federal funding.

The order says that within 90 days, the Departments of Education, Defense and Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Attorney General, should provide an “Ending Indoctrination Strategy.”

The order says the attorney general will work with state attorneys general and local district attorneys “to enforce the law and file appropriate actions against K-12 teachers and school officials who violate the law by sexually exploiting minors, unlawfully practicing medicine by offering diagnoses and treatment without the requisite license,” or “unlawfully” help a minor transition genders.

The order also reestablishes President Trump’s 1776 Commission that he created during his first term to promote “patriotic education.” He gave the education secretary 120 days to establish it into the department.

Former President Biden revoked the order in 2021.

Mr. Trump has previously vowed to do away with the Department of Education and get rid of wokeness in education. 

Critical race theory is a school of thought that focuses on how systemic racism plays a role in American society. Conservatives have long criticized it, saying it unfairly blames White people, which has caused fights over what schools are teaching and leading Republican states to adopt laws to restrict the teaching.

Defenders say the theory goes further than that, and tries to address the history of racism in the U.S.

The majority of school funding comes from state and local sources, while the federal government provides a smaller amount.

This is just one of three education executive orders that Mr. Trump signed Wednesday without his pick for Education secretary, Linda McMahon, even having her Senate confirmation hearing.

He also signed an executive order that would free up federal funding to expand school choice programs. The third order was aimed at combating antisemitism on college campuses and resident alien “Hamas sympathizers” who took part in pro-Palestinian protests at schools across the country.