American Atheists has been sounding the alarm about Project 2025 for quite some time. This week, it’s been all over the news, and that’s a good thing: Voters need to know what’s at stake this November.
The surge in media attention prompted Trump to distance himself from the Heritage Foundation’s “Mandate for Leadership,” denying he knows anything about it (while also wishing them luck). His denial is implausible considering a CNN review revealed more than half of Project 2025’s authors, editors, and contributors have ties to the former president, including at least 140 who worked for his administration. There’s also a 2022 video of Trump saying, “[The Heritage Foundation is] going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do.”
Also this week:
- Missouri Senator Josh Hawley told the National Conservatism Conference: “Some will say now that I am calling America a Christian Nation. And so I am. And some will say that I am advocating Christian Nationalism. And so I do. My question is: Is there any other kind worth having?”
- Tennessee is two weeks into its month of prayer and fasting, after Governor Bill Lee signed a resolution calling for citizens to ask that “the Holy Spirit fill our halls of government, our classrooms,…” as a solution to human trafficking, drug addiction, government corruption, and violent crime.
- Recently obtained documents show lawyers for Robert Morris, formerly a member of Trump’s evangelical advisory board, blamed a 12-year-old sexual abuse victim for initiating “inappropriate behavior” with the now-resigned megachurch pastor, who was, at the time of the assault, in his early 20s.
- A ProPublica and CBS News investigation found Texas’ funding of an anti-abortion program has skyrocketed, funneling tens of millions of unregulated public dollars to fake clinics. Last year, legislation that would have ensured services provided by so-called crisis pregnancy centers were evidence-based was blocked. “In some cases, taxpayers are paying these groups to distribute goods they obtained for free,” like billing $14 to hand out a single pamphlet or a couple of donated diapers. Legislators in other states like Tennessee and Florida have also allocated $20 million or more to publicly fund anti-abortion centers. (ICYMI: American Atheists recently hosted a webinar about crisis pregnancy centers.)
- Arizona’s Attorney General launched an investigation into the state’s controversial $825 million school voucher program, alleging tax dollars have been unlawfully used to reimburse families for extravagant purchases. Kayaks, hot dog ovens, espresso machines, bounce houses, Broadway tickets, Christian concerts, ski passes, Lego sets, and more have all been approved by the Department of Education as “supplemental materials.” It’s estimated this abuse-ridden voucher program diverts $300,000 away from every public school in the state, even as 90% of Arizona families choose public schools, which are ranked 49th in the nation for per-pupil funding.
Finally, we need to talk about Oklahoma, where, two weeks ago, State Superintendent Ryan Walters directed all public schools to teach the Christian Bible. It wasn’t immediately clear what he meant by “incorporating” the religious text into classroom instruction, other than that noncompliant teachers could lose their licenses. Now there’s no doubt.
This Tuesday, Walters issued a press statement announcing a “complete overhaul” of Oklahoma’s social studies standards to be developed by an “Executive Review Committee” that will “incorporate the introduction of the Bible as an instructional resource” and “inspire in students a love of country and a proper understanding of the American founding.” TLDR; Christian nationalism.
Walters said he formed the committee to prevent “political slanted viewpoints” and “indoctrination,” yet he handpicked a roster of exclusively far-right religious radicals. It includes Dennis Prager of PragerU (who has admitted he wants to indoctrinate children), Robert Pondiscio of the American Enterprise Institute, pseudo-historian David Barton of WallBuilders, Kevin Roberts of The Heritage Foundation, and David Goodwin of the Association of Classical Christian Schools.
These aren’t historians, academics, educators, or even Oklahomans. So, what could their social studies standards look like? Well, PragerU’s curriculum includes a video titled, “What’s Wrong with Atheism?” And WallBuilders recommends reading “What’s So Great About Christianity.” These, Walters says, are “some of the brightest minds available,” and “their unparalleled expertise will help craft new academic standards that will serve as a model for the nation.”
Unfortunately, we have every reason to believe Christian nationalists in other states will continue these unconstitutional attempts to Christianize our secular public schools. But, with your generous support and the tireless leadership of our State Directors, American Atheists will keep fighting to protect students from religious indoctrination, to oppose the privatization of our public schools, and to promote evidence-based academic standards.
In solidarity,
Nick Fish
President
American Atheists is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, nonprofit educational organization that relies on the support of members like you. Contributions are tax-deductible. Our Federal Tax ID Number is 74-2466507 and our Combined Federal Campaign number is 52217.
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