U.S. Department of Education Dismisses Book Ban Complaints, Ends Biden's Program Amid Trump's Stance and PEN America's Criticism

Jan 24, 2025, 10:16 PM

The U.S. Department of Education has dismissed 11 complaints related to so-called 'book bans' that were filed under a program initiated during the Biden administration. The terminated program investigated allegations that school districts were removing books, particularly those deemed pornographic or age-inappropriate, from school libraries. The Trump administration has labeled these removals as 'common sense' rather than 'book bans.' This action marks a significant shift in policy, reflecting the administration's stance against what it considers to be inappropriate content in educational settings. Critics, including PEN America, argue that the dismissal of these complaints and the characterization of book bans as a 'hoax' is dismissive of the experiences of students, educators, and authors who have faced censorship in schools.