Bondi warns public schools: Parents’ rights come first

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday issued a directive reaffirming the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of parents in disputes with public schools over controversial curriculum content.

In the memo, Bondi highlighted what she described as a “disturbing trend” of state and local officials incorporating “radical gender and racial ideology” into classrooms while suppressing dissenting viewpoints from parents. The guidance emphasized that parents retain both the right and responsibility to defend their children against instruction they believe undermines family values, religious convictions, or constitutional liberties.

Bondi reiterated that the First Amendment protects parents’ ability to speak freely at school board meetings and petition government bodies over grievances. While acknowledging the need for schools to maintain order, she cautioned that authority cannot be used as “a pretext to silence dissent or punish parents for expressing their views.”

The memo also reinforced parental rights regarding moral and religious instruction, stating that schools receiving public funds must comply with federal protections allowing parents to exempt their children from lessons conflicting with their religious beliefs. Citing precedent, Bondi warned that compelled exposure to contested materials could violate federal law.

Beyond curriculum disputes, the attorney general raised concerns about “abusive conduct by government actors against parents” who speak out, warning that officials who threaten or retaliate against parents could face federal accountability. She pointed specifically to 18 U.S.C. § 241, which makes it a crime to conspire to violate constitutional rights.

To enforce these protections, Bondi directed the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, headed by Harmeet Dhillon, to monitor violations of parental rights and First Amendment liberties in schools. She also ordered US Attorneys to coordinate with federal, state, and local partners to respond to credible threats and infringements.

“The Department stands with America’s parents,” the memo concluded, framing the initiative as part of a broader effort to “restore the rule of law and return the federal government to the people it serves.”