Republicans’ Defense Amendment Would Rescue Military Kids From Lefty Indoctrination In DOD Schools | STARRS (2024)

By Max Eden and Amy Haywood | The Federalist

Among the many national security liabilities created by the Biden administration, one of the less remarked upon has been the ideological corruption of the schools serving children of America’s military servicemembers.

The outgoing director of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools hired awomanwith a very public record of anti-white racism as its firstchiefof “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI).

DODEA, which runs 160 schools on military bases across the globe serving more than 69,000 children of military personnel, has gone further than perhaps any district in America in systematizingsecret so-called gender transitions.

In Bahrain, the official school Facebook account openlycelebrateda pro-Hamas political activist.

Telling America’s military servicemembers that “in exchange for risking your lives to serve our country, we’ll teach your children to hate your values” is a dishonorable deal for Uncle Sam to offer. Fortunately, Republicans in Congress have taken note — and are stepping up to change the way DODEA schools are governed.

After revelations published by theClaremont InstituteandOpen the Booksregarding the extremely ideological “equity training” offered to teachers—which included recommending so-called Social and Emotional Learning material intended to makechildren cry— congressional Republicans, led by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., added aServicemember Parents Bill of Rightsto the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Given the stir around these trainings — and the apparentlycorrupt dealingsof DODEA’s anti-white chief diversity officer — DODEAeliminated the positionof chief diversity officer and appeared to disband its DEI department.

But that was a sham. As Open the Books, a transparency oversight nonprofit organization, noted, DODEA school chief Tom Brady opted instead to form asecretive “DEI Steering Committee.”

DODEA has stonewalled public records requests from Open the Books regarding the membership and activities of this committee and also blocked congressionalinquiryled by Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind.

Congressional Action

Banks sponsored anamendmentto the most recent NDAA for fiscal 2025, passed out of committee last Wednesday, to dismantle the DODEA DEI Steering Committee.

Perhaps more importantly, he sponsored anamendmentto create a small school choicepilot programfor 30 students in the DODEA school in Bahrain, which has experienced not only significant problems with facilities but also apparently supported anantisemitic activistwho openly embraces the cause of Hamas.

Congressional Democrats vehemently and unanimously opposed Banks’ amendments. And it’s no wonder why.

The last round of NDAA extended additional rights to service members whose children attend DODEA schools. Banks’ amendments represent a potential for a significant shift in the exercise of congressional authority over DODEA.

His amendment would actually dictate aspects of how DODEA is managed. And, more importantly, his amendment could create a precedent for extending school choice to the children of all military service members.

The NDAA now awaits a full House vote; after passage, it must be reconciled with the Senate’s forthcoming version of the bill before it can be sent to the president to sign into law.

About two decades ago, congressional Republicans — especially Rep. John Boehner — noted the disaster that was the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) system and decided to launch a voucher program for D.C. children.

Congress has even more authority over DODEA than over DCPS.

Historically, Congress has not exercised it — partly because offering choice to DODEA parents would seem to be an admission that the schools were not excellent. Given the generally high standardized test scores these students achieve, Congress likely made a prudential calculation that it was in America’s national security interest to let this system operate as is.

But now the Biden administration and the leadership of outgoing DODEA Director Brady have infected operations with DEI, and the public recognizes that direct federal influence and control has fully institutionalized this anti-American ideology, it only makes strategic sense for Congress to change its calculation.

Banks’ program for now may be only a pilot serving 30 students.

But hopefully, if and when Republicans gain full legislative control, they can follow in the footsteps of state legislators across the country and extend universal education savings accounts to all families serving our country.

Just as school choice for students in the District of Columbia has been a steadfast Republican congressional priority, so too should it be for children of America’s military service members.

Amy Haywood is a former senior legislative assistant for a U.S. House representative. She writes The Primary Educator newsletter, which can be found attheprimaryeducator.com. Max Eden is a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on education reform.

First published in The Federalist