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New Federal Voucher Regulations a Christian Nationalist Cash-Grab

WASHINGTON – The following is a statement from American Humanist Association Executive Director Fish Stark in response to the Trump administration’s proposed rules for implementing the unprecedented national school voucher program:

“These regulations were written in order to guarantee a massive wealth transfer to scholarship granting organizations and unaccountable private and religious schools that are free to discriminate against students on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, disability status, religion and more. At a time when costs are rising across the country and families are struggling to make ends meet, the Trump administration chose to deliver tax breaks to wealthy donors and corporate special interests who stand to make billions of dollars from this program. 

“Every student in America deserves a quality, inclusive public education, but these proposed rules will ensure money that should be serving the public benefit is funnelled into these private religious schools and other privatization organizations – all at a yearly cost of $51 billion, or more, to American taxpayers, with absolutely no attempts on the administration’s part to mitigate risk or ensure accountability. The fact that these proposed rules explicitly prohibit states from implementing safeguards to protect students and taxpayers shows just how little the future wellbeing and education of our nation’s children has been prioritized here. 

“This is an irresponsible interpretation of the law, and while the rules aren’t yet final, we urge states to not opt in to this untested and unaccountable program.”

The American Humanist Association

The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of Humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of Humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

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