After Democrats took control of the White House in 2020, the administration implemented a wide range of controversial mandates across multiple policy areas, which often prompted strong concerns from parents and local officials regarding the federal government’s involvement in education and local control.

In October 2021, the FBI’s Counterterrorism and Criminal Divisions created and implemented a dedicated threat tag labeled “EDUOFFICIALS” to track school board-related cases nationwide.  

 This followed Attorney General Merrick Garland’s memorandum dated October 4, 2021. The memo directed the FBI and U.S. Attorneys’ offices to address reported increases in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff. This was reported by the New York Post in its recent coverage of newly released FOIA documents.

The memorandum was issued shortly after the National School Boards Association (NSBA) sent a letter to President Biden on September 29, 2021. That letter described disruptions and threats at school board meetings, frequently connected to debates over COVID-19 masking policies, curriculum issues, and school re-openings.  

The six page document suggested that some incidents could constitute domestic terrorism or hate crimes and requested federal assistance, including potential use of tools such as the Patriot Act.

America First Legal through FOIA litigation, later obtained documents released in 2025, revealing extensive White House coordination and political orchestration behind the memo. These records show that on October 1, 2021, White House officials were already pressing the DOJ for action in response to the NSBA letter.

Internal emails indicate DOJ officials noted the challenge of “finding a federal hook” but concurred on the White House outreach for assistance. On October 2, senior DOJ political appointees, including Sparkle Sooknanan, directed Civil Rights Division attorneys to urgently identify legal authorities to address the issue over the weekend.

Career attorneys in the Civil Rights Division repeatedly warned that there was no clear federal authority for targeting parents and that much of the activity involved speech protected by the First Amendment. 

Despite these objections, political leadership bypassed normal clearance and coordination processes. They issued the memo on October 4, driven by political priorities rather than standard law enforcement protocols. This shifted certain local school board matters into national law enforcement priorities.

Nevertheless, newly released internal records obtained through  FOIA requests by America First Legal in 2026 show reservations from within the FBI prior to the memo’s issuance. On the day Garland issued the directive, then-FBI Deputy Assistant Director Jay Greenberg emailed DOJ officials noting that the bureau was “not on the same page” with investigators. He cited coordination issues and requested additional time to develop a unified approach.

Just days later, on October 8, 2021, Garland’s chief of staff Peter Hyun documented a conversation with Jonathan Thompson of the National Sheriffs’ Association. Thompson reported that sheriffs nationwide had not observed or received reports of widespread threats to school boards. He noted the absence of prior coordination from the FBI or DOJ and questioned the federal role in what were primarily local issues. Subpoenaed materials and surveys from the U.S. Attorneys’ offices similarly indicated limited evidence of a broad national crisis. 

Nevertheless, implementation of the memorandum continued.

On October 20, 2021, the FBI’s Counterterrorism and Criminal Divisions directed personnel to apply the “EDUOFFICIALS” tag to investigations and assessments involving threats against school board administrators, board members, teachers, and staff. The purpose was to enable national-level analysis and coordination.

Subsequent whistleblower disclosures and House Judiciary Committee investigations found that the tag was applied to approximately 25 Guardian assessments across nearly every FBI region. Some of these involved parents’ speech and attendance at school board meetings.

A March 2023 interim staff report by the House Judiciary Committee and its Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government stated that, as a result of Garland’s directive, the Biden Administration misused federal law-enforcement and counterterrorism resources, including the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division and the newly created EDUOFFICIALS threat tag, to examine activity that included protected First Amendment expression.

The report concluded there was “no legitimate nationwide basis” for the memo and that it chilled parents’ speech. It cited subpoenaed documents showing the FBI opened dozens of investigations (disclosed as at least 25 “Guardian assessments”) under the EDUOFFICIALS tag, many of which did not result in federal charges.

Congressional oversight by House Republicans, through the House Judiciary Committee and its Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, along with Senate Judiciary Republicans including Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), produced multiple reports, letters, and subpoenas documenting the scope of the effort. 

These materials, including subpoenaed internal DOJ documents, revealed internal discussions questioning aspects of Garland’s October 4, 2021 memo. Many officials described elements as politically damaging or unwise, while law enforcement partners, including the National Sheriffs’ Association which noted that most incidents were local matters best handled by local police rather than federal authorities. 

Documents also indicated White House coordination with the NSBA in relation to the DOJ’s drafting process.

The NSBA later issued an apology for portions of its letter, withdrew the domestic terrorism framing, and saw several state associations distance themselves from the organization. 

Garland’s memorandum was not rescinded. In congressional testimony, Garland maintained that the effort focused solely on true threats and violence, not on protest, and that FBI agents would not attend school board meetings.

The newly released 2026 FOIA documents have prompted renewed congressional and public scrutiny, particularly regarding the handling of internal warnings from FBI professionals and local law enforcement leaders.

This episode has intensified longstanding debates over the appropriate role and proper boundaries of federal law enforcement in local education matters, the protection of parental rights in public forums, and the importance of institutional impartiality. 

In response to the National School Boards Association’s September 2021 letter; which labeled certain parental protests as potential domestic terrorism, federal authorities directed the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division to deploy specialized threat-tracking tools, including the “EDUOFFICIALS” tag originally intended for national security threats. These tools were applied to parents at school board meetings, drawing widespread criticism as disproportionate overreach.

Such measures raised concerns about potential violations of core constitutional protections, particularly the First Amendment’s guarantees of free speech, assembly, and the right to petition government officials. By framing routine civic participation as a potential threat requiring counterterrorism scrutiny, the actions risked chilling lawful dissent and eroding public trust in federal institutions.

Oversight findings ultimately demonstrate an important truth. While genuine threats must be addressed promptly, public institutions must exercise restraint and precision to avoid infringing on protected speech and the foundations of constitutional liberties. 

Under the Biden administration, the DOJ de-emphasized traditional prosecutions in favor of directing resources inward. Rather than focusing primarily on conventional law enforcement priorities, it applied counterterrorism tools in an attempt to overgovern parents voicing objections at school board meetings, many of whom opposed prevailing COVID-19 policies and related mandates.

For the better part of four months, the world economy has been living under a dark cloud. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatened to trigger the greatest energy shock since the Arab oil embargo of the 1970s. Roughly one fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supply and a significant portion of global liquefied natural gas transit through this narrow maritime corridor separating the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman. When traffic through the strait slowed to a trickle, markets shuddered, energy prices surged, and economists began openly discussing the possibility of a global recession.

Today, however, there is reason for cautious optimism. President Donald Trump announced that oil tankers are once again moving through the Strait of Hormuz and that ships carrying vital energy supplies are beginning to emerge from the Gulf. Markets reacted immediately. Oil prices fell sharply and investors welcomed what appears to be the first meaningful step toward restoring stability to one of the world’s most important trade routes.

This development should not be underestimated. The average American may never see the Strait of Hormuz on a map, but every American feels its effects. The price of gasoline, diesel fuel, airline tickets, groceries, home heating, and manufactured goods are all influenced by the uninterrupted flow of energy through this strategic chokepoint. When oil cannot move, economies slow. When economies slow, families suffer.

The Strait of Hormuz has long been one of the most strategically significant waterways on Earth. Barely twenty miles wide at its narrowest point, it serves as the gateway through which Gulf oil reaches world markets. For decades military planners, diplomats, and energy experts have warned that any disruption there could have profound consequences for the global economy. Those warnings proved correct.

When conflict erupted earlier this year and shipping through the strait became increasingly dangerous, energy markets immediately responded. Oil prices climbed. Insurance costs skyrocketed. Tankers were stranded. Supply chains were disrupted. Governments around the world scrambled to secure alternative sources of fuel. The effects rippled across continents. Factories reduced production. Transportation costs rose. Inflationary pressures intensified. Countries heavily dependent on imported energy found themselves confronting difficult economic choices.

What made the situation particularly dangerous was that it demonstrated how fragile modern globalization has become. An incident in a narrow stretch of water thousands of miles away can affect families filling their gas tanks in Florida, truck drivers delivering goods in Ohio, and manufacturers operating in Texas.

The world economy remains interconnected in ways that many Americans rarely consider. That is why the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz matters. It represents more than the movement of ships. It represents the restoration of confidence. Markets thrive on certainty. Businesses invest when they know what tomorrow will bring. Consumers spend when they believe prices will remain stable. Investors commit capital when geopolitical risks appear manageable.

The reopening of this critical maritime artery signals that the worst-case scenario may have been avoided. Credit should be given where credit is due. Throughout this crisis, President Trump consistently emphasized the importance of restoring freedom of navigation and maintaining stability in global energy markets. His administration understood that prolonged disruption would not only harm America’s allies but would also impose significant costs on American consumers.

Critics frequently mock the President’s focus on energy prices. They should not. Energy is the lifeblood of modern civilization. Every product that reaches a store shelf, every airplane that leaves a runway, every tractor that harvests a field, and every truck that delivers food to a supermarket depends on affordable and reliable energy. When energy prices spike, the consequences are felt throughout the economy. When they decline, working families benefit.

To be clear, the situation remains far from normal. Shipping companies remain cautious. Some vessels are still waiting for assurances regarding security. Insurance rates remain elevated. Analysts warn that a complete return to pre-crisis conditions could take months rather than weeks.

Nevertheless, the trajectory is encouraging. The world is witnessing the first substantial signs that one of the most dangerous economic disruptions in recent memory may finally be easing.

There is another lesson here that Washington should remember: for years, America was told that energy independence was outdated, unnecessary, or environmentally irresponsible. We were told that reliance on foreign energy sources posed no significant risk. The events of the past several months have exposed that fantasy. A nation that cannot produce sufficient energy is vulnerable. A nation dependent upon unstable regions for critical resources sacrifices both economic security and strategic flexibility.

The United States possesses enormous energy resources. We have the ability to produce oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear power at levels that would have astonished previous generations. Energy abundance strengthens national security. Energy abundance lowers costs. Energy abundance protects American families from geopolitical turmoil occurring thousands of miles away.

As ships once again navigate the Strait of Hormuz, Americans should welcome the development while remembering the lessons it has taught. The global economy remains vulnerable. Strategic chokepoints still matter. Strong leadership still matters. And energy security remains inseparable from national security. The world may have avoided an economic catastrophe. That alone is cause for gratitude. Now comes the harder task of ensuring that America never finds itself so exposed to the decisions of hostile regimes and distant conflicts again.

On the South Lawn of the White House this weekend, President Donald J. Trump kicked off America’s 250th anniversary celebration in a way only Donald Trump could: on his 80th birthday and against the backdrop of the Executive Mansion, beneath the flags of the United States and the branches of our armed forces, thousands gathered for UFC Freedom 250, the first professional sporting event ever held on White House grounds. The event featured championship fights, military flyovers by the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds, patriotic music, and chants of “USA! USA!” echoing across the nation’s capital. To many Americans, it was more than a sporting event. It was a declaration that the celebration of America is back. After years of national self-doubt, historical revisionism, and cultural pessimism, President Trump has launched the nation’s Semiquincentennial not with an apology for America, but with a celebration of American greatness.

That may explain why the event infuriated so many members of the political and media establishment. For years, America’s cultural elites have seemed uncomfortable with the very idea of patriotism. They have spent decades teaching Americans to focus on every failure while minimizing every triumph. They have encouraged young people to view our history through the narrow prism of grievance rather than achievement. They have attempted to transform pride in America into something that must be qualified, explained away, or apologized for. The American people never accepted that narrative.

As our nation approaches its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, something extraordinary is happening. Patriotism is making a comeback. Across the country, Americans are rediscovering their history, their heritage, and their pride in the greatest nation ever created by man. They are flying flags. They are attending historical reenactments. They are visiting battlefields, monuments, and museums. They are teaching their children about the Founding Fathers rather than apologizing for them. Most importantly, they are rejecting the false choice between acknowledging America’s imperfections and celebrating America’s greatness.

The United States was founded upon one of the most revolutionary ideas in human history. The Declaration of Independence proclaimed that our rights come not from kings, governments, bureaucrats, or political parties, but from God. The Constitution created a system of limited government designed to protect individual liberty. The Bill of Rights established protections for speech, religion, due process, private property, and self-government unlike anything the world had ever seen. Those ideas changed human history. They still do.

Yet for much of the last two decades, powerful institutions have worked relentlessly to undermine confidence in those principles. Under President Barack Hussein Obama, America witnessed an unprecedented effort to redefine how citizens viewed their own country. Obama famously stated that he wanted to “fundamentally transform the United States of America.” In many respects, he attempted to do precisely that.

His administration increasingly promoted the notion that America’s history was primarily a story of oppression rather than opportunity. Traditional civic education gave way to ideological activism. Patriotism became suspect. National borders became an inconvenience. Historical figures were judged not within the context of their own times but through the political standards of the present.

The consequences have been profound. An entire generation was taught to focus more on America’s shortcomings than its achievements. Children learned more about what America did wrong than what America did right. They learned about slavery but not enough about the abolitionists who ended it. They learned about segregation but not enough about the sacrifices that dismantled it. They learned about conflict but not enough about courage. They learned about mistakes but not enough about greatness.

Perhaps nowhere was this revisionist impulse more visible than in the attacks on America’s historical figures and traditions. Statues were torn down. Monuments were vandalized. Christopher Columbus, one of the most consequential explorers in human history, became a target for activists determined to erase his legacy from public life. Columbus Day, which I wrote about extensively in October 2025, long recognized as a celebration of exploration, courage, and discovery, was recast as something shameful. This was never really about Columbus. It was about America. The goal was not simply to reassess historical figures. The goal was to weaken Americans’ connection to their own history. A nation disconnected from its past becomes easier to manipulate in the present.

Fortunately, the American people proved more resilient than the revisionists anticipated. Ordinary Americans understand that history is complicated. They understand that historical figures were human beings, not saints. They also understand that judging every person who lived centuries ago according to modern political fashions is intellectually dishonest and historically illiterate. More importantly, Americans understand that our history is overwhelmingly a story of progress, achievement, innovation, and liberty.

America liberated Europe from Nazi tyranny. America rebuilt much of the world after World War II. America placed a man on the Moon. American scientists revolutionized medicine. American entrepreneurs transformed technology. American soldiers defended freedom across the globe.

Millions continue to seek refuge and opportunity in the United States because they understand something many American elites have forgotten. America remains exceptional. Not because Americans are genetically superior. Not because we are flawless. But because the principles upon which this nation was founded remain the greatest expression of individual liberty ever conceived.

President Trump’s return to office has coincided with a renewed confidence in those principles. Rather than apologizing for America, he celebrates it. Rather than diminishing our history, he embraces it. Rather than viewing patriotism as a relic of the past, he understands that love of country remains essential to national unity.

The approaching 250th anniversary offers Americans a unique opportunity. We can continue down the path of historical revisionism and national self-loathing. Or we can rediscover the truth about our country. The truth is that America is neither perfect nor evil. America is extraordinary. The truth is that our history includes mistakes, but it also includes the fact that we corrected those mistakes and continue to do so. Our achievements remain unmatched by any nation in human history.

The truth is that generations of Americans built a constitutional republic that has provided more freedom, prosperity, and opportunity than any government the world has ever known.

As fireworks illuminate the sky this July 4th and Americans celebrate two and a half centuries of independence, they will not merely be celebrating a date on a calendar. They will be celebrating an idea. The idea that free people can govern themselves. The idea that liberty comes from God, not government. The idea that individuals should be free to pursue happiness, prosperity, and purpose without interference from an all-powerful state. Those ideas remain worth defending. They remain worth teaching. And they remain worth celebrating.

Patriotism is back because Americans are remembering who they are. President Trump has helped lead that revival. And as America enters its 250th year, the greatest chapter of the American story may still lie ahead.