For Immediate Release

Contact: David Reinbold, dreinbold@americanhumanist.org

(Jan. 29, 2025) – The American Humanist Association stands firmly against President Donald Trump’s expected executive order expanding school voucher programs using federal taxpayer dollars, which is a direct attack on the separation of church and state. In response to news of the impending order, Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association issued the following statement:

“This move today by the Trump administration is an insidious and direct shot to the separation of church and state. Christian Nationalists across the country are trying to indoctrinate American children and use our taxpayer dollars to do it. We won’t sit idly by while Trump and Christian Nationalists try to dismantle public education.

“This move by the Trump Administration is not intended to help students. Study after study shows that voucher programs don’t benefit students, their only purpose is to weaken public schools to the benefit of private religious ones that routinely discriminate against students in their admissions processes. Americans don’t want money siphoned away from our public schools toward religious institutions that discriminate against children on the basis of religion, ability, or sexual orientation — but the Trump Administration is pushing it on them anyway.

“Although humanists are alarmed by this sweeping order, we are not surprised. Protecting students’ rights to a free, secular, public education is the American Humanist Association’s priority under this administration, and we will not rest until all students–regardless of background, belief, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, zip code, or socioeconomic status–can equally access  the benefits of a strong public education system, free from religious interference or indoctrination.”

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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.