Groups Degrading Democracy are Charged with ‘Renewing Patriotism’
Delray Beach, FL — Truth Wins Out (TWO), a nonprofit dedicated to exposing extremism, today condemned the U.S. Department of Education’s alarming decision to partner with extremist organizations tied to Project 2025 as part of the newly launched “America 250 Civics Education Coalition.”
The coalition — which includes Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, the America First Policy Institute, and more than 40 state and national groups — is charged with shaping civics education under the guise of ‘renewing patriotism.’ At least 20 organizations on Project 2025’s Advisory Board are part of DOE’s coalition.
“It is Orwellian that the very groups working to undermine democracy, spread right wing propaganda, and deny the results of free and fair elections are now being invited to teach our children about patriotism and civics,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “It’s bizarre and offensive, like putting Ghislaine Maxwell in charge of children’s safety.”
Besen continued, “Partnering with these groups is a betrayal of America’s values. Their worldview is exclusionary and rooted in discrimination. A government that embraces their agenda is no longer neutral — it is actively complicit in undermining equality and civil rights.”
On October 1, Truth Wins Out will be releasing, “Behind the Mask: The Project 2025 Organizations Reshaping America.” Our report reveals that any group that is on Project’s 2025 Advisory Board is unfit, by definition, from teaching civics education.
A DOE press release says: With oversight from U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and the Department, the AFPI-led coalition will spearhead nationwide initiatives to engage students, educators, and communities in conversations about liberty, citizenship, and America’s enduring values.
Many of the organizations tapped by the DOE supported Donald Trump’s discredited “Stop the Steal” effort, which sought to overturn the 2020 election through conspiracy theories, intimidation, and violent insurrection. Far from respecting the Constitution, these groups openly attempted to subvert it — and now, they want access to classrooms.
“How can organizations that clearly don’t understand the United States Constitution teach young Americans about democracy,” said Besen. “They don’t believe in majority rule, freedom of speech, or the peaceful transitions of power. Their records show they believe elections only count when their side wins.”
The DOE press release describes the coalition’s mission as fostering “patriotic civics education.” Yet, the groups involved are notorious for pushing right-wing dogma under the banner of patriotism. Hillsdale College, for example, produces “1776 Curriculum” materials that downplay slavery, glorify Christian nationalism, and erase systemic racism. Turning Point USA runs “Professor Watchlists” targeting educators for alleged liberal bias, chilling free thought on college campuses.
“This isn’t education, it’s indoctrination,” said Besen. “The Department of Education recruited these groups to rewrite history so it neatly fits their ideology, stigmatizes marginalized groups, and trains children to blindly obey authority. That’s not patriotism — it’s propaganda.”
Project 2025 advisory organizations have well-documented ties to white nationalism, Christian nationalism, and authoritarian politics. They have worked to roll back reproductive freedom, demonize LGBTQ Americans, oppose racial justice initiatives, and dismantle church-state separation.
Truth Wins Out called on the Department of Education to immediately terminate partnerships with all Project 2025-affiliated organizations and replace them with credible, nonpartisan civic groups that respect the Constitution.
“Civics education is too important to be handed over to extremists,” said Besen. “Students deserve to learn the truth about our history — the good and the bad — and how to strengthen democracy, not dismantle it. We urge the Department of Education to cut ties before irreparable damage is done.”
At a time when political violence is escalating, disinformation is rampant, and faith in democracy is under assault, handing the civics curriculum to groups that thrived on division is a recipe for disaster.
“Authoritarians know that if you capture the minds of the young, you capture the future,” said Besen. “This coalition isn’t about education; it’s about manufacturing loyalty to an extremist movement. If we allow this to stand, we risk raising a generation groomed to accept autocracy as normal.”
Project 2025 Advisory Board organizations partnering with the DOE include:
- Alabama Policy Institute
- Alliance Defending Freedom
- American Center for Law & Justice
- American Cornerstone Institute
- American Legislative Exchange Council
- American Moment
- American Principles Project
- Center for Renewing America
- Claremont Institute
- Concerned Women for America
- Conservative Partnership Institute
- Eagle Forum
- First Liberty Institute
- Heritage Foundation
- Hillsdale College
- James Madison Institute
- Leadership Institute
- Moms for Liberty
- National Association of Scholars
- Turning Point USA
About Truth Wins Out
Truth Wins Out is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that works to advance liberty and democracy, protect the rights of LGBTQ people and other minorities, combat religious extremism, and fight against the spread of disinformation.
Media Contact:
Contact: Wayne Besen, Executive Director
Email: WBesen@truthwinsout.org
Website: www.TruthWinsOut.org
