Owens Introduces CHARLIE Act to End Biden-Era Indoctrination of Schools

Resources / Press Share on Owens Introduces CHARLIE Act to End Biden-Era Indoctrination of Schools May 14, 2026 Press WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04) introduced H.R. 8705 , the Civics and History Advancement to Restore Learning, Integrity, and Education Act, or CHARLIE Act , to protect the American History and Civics Education program from being weaponized by the radical Left to push divisive ideology on America’s children. The American History and Civics program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was created to ensure that students had basic civics literacy. The program has long enjoyed bipartisan support because the state of civics education in America is in crisis. Far too many citizens cannot name the three branches of government or a single sitting Supreme Court Justice. The program was designed to address that and to inspire students with the riches of our civic inheritance, teach why the Founding Fathers matter, and explain how our government actually functions. Unfortunately, beginning in 2021, the Biden Administration attempted to redirect those grants toward deeply partisan programs promoting the discredited 1619 Project and the work of Ibram X. Kendi, who openly endorses racial discrimination. This shift was discovered by Congress, and the Biden Administration faced backlash. However, instead of stopping their partisan efforts, they returned with more subtle tactics and still prioritized grants for programs prioritizing DEI instruction over traditional civics instruction. “Thomas Jefferson warned us that a nation cannot be ignorant and free. My friend Charlie Kirk spent his life proving Jefferson right. He did more to educate young Americans about their country than any other person in public life. He pressed them to think for themselves and have spirited debates, making the case day in and day out that the principles enshrined in our founding documents mean something and that we can’t afford to squander the incredible inheritance gifted to us by the Founders. That is real civics education, not the propaganda and subtle indoctrination that the left used to prioritize ideology over education by funneling taxpayer dollars to promote divisive and debunked racial falsehoods, radical gender ideology, and political activism. We’re putting an end to that once and for all with the CHARLIE Act.” Congressman Burgess Owens What the CHARLIE Act Does Prohibits Radical Indoctrination: Bars American History and Civics funds from being used for “discriminatory equity ideology” or “gender ideology,” as defined by President Trump’s executive orders on ending radical indoctrination in K–12 schooling. Ends Preferential Grant Awards: Prohibits the Secretary of Education from giving grant priority on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status — ensuring civics funding goes to the best programs, not the most politically favored ones. ### Share on