Virginia Foxx - Chairwoman of the Education and the Workforce committee | Official U.S. House headshot
Virginia Foxx - Chairwoman of the Education and the Workforce committee | Official U.S. House headshot
Today, key figures in the field of education and workforce development expressed their concerns over the alleged political bias in the distribution of Truman Scholarships. Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development Chairman Burgess Owens (R-UT), and Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Chairman Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL) have penned a letter to Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation Executive Secretary Dr. Terry Babcock-Lumish.
The communication follows recent reports suggesting that these taxpayer-funded scholarships are being disproportionately awarded to candidates who support liberal causes. The ratio is said to be more than 10:1 in favor of liberal over conservative candidates.
In their letter, the lawmakers stated: “Between 2021 and 2023, the Truman Foundation selected 182 Truman winners. Yet, despite the Truman Foundation’s claims that it ‘supports scholars from a wide range of perspectives, interests, and geographic areas,’ just six recipients espoused interest in a cause traditionally considered conservative-leaning. Not a single winner professed interest in causes such as protecting the rights of the unborn or defending the Second Amendment. By contrast, the Foundation selected at least 74 winners professing interest in a progressive cause.”
They continued by asserting that they "refuse to believe that only liberal students demonstrate ‘outstanding potential’ in public service." They argue that as a publicly funded award designed to prepare future civic leaders, the Truman Scholarship should reflect the country's diversity of values, viewpoints, and interests.
In conclusion, they requested additional information from Dr. Babcock-Lumish on several points:
- What measures are being taken to ensure that the Truman Scholarship truly supports scholars from a wide range of perspectives?
- How is it ensured that selection committee members do not discriminate against conservative students?
- Between 2021 and 2023, what percentage of the applicant pool primarily advocated for conservative causes?
- What steps are being taken to recruit a more ideologically diverse pool of nominees?
The full letter can be accessed here.
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