House lawmakers are moving to curb the Chinese Communist Party’s influence in America’s K–12 schools, warning that “Confucius classrooms” have quietly expanded into more than 500 districts nationwide.
During a Feb. 12 hearing, House Education Committee Chairman Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) called the programs “CCP propaganda outposts,” arguing they pose national, geopolitical, and academic security risks. Lawmakers said these classroom partnerships, often presented as cultural exchanges, are in reality designed to advance Beijing’s strategic interests.
The PROTECT Our Kids Act would allow the federal government to withhold funding from schools that enter financial agreements with CCP-linked entities. The measure is expected to receive a vote this week, following recent congressional action targeting Chinese influence at the college level.
