Massive SPLC-linked grant under fire as watchdog exposes ties to middle school programs
A watchdog report revealed over $3.85 million in taxpayer-backed grants linked to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), including a $2.5 million NIH-funded University of Michigan project integrating SPLC’s racial justice curriculum into middle school programs. Critics argue the curriculum promotes divisive content, while the NIH denies continued funding, though university records still reference the SPLC partnership.
A taxpayer watchdog group, OpenTheBooks, exposed over $3.85 million in federal and public funds awarded to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) since 2016, including a $2.5 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant for a University of Michigan-led project. The grant, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, aimed to integrate SPLC’s ‘Learning for Justice’ curriculum—formerly ‘Teaching Tolerance’—into middle school programs across six Genesee County, Michigan, schools. Reviewed lesson materials from the SPLC’s curriculum directed students to a ‘map of active hate groups,’ equating anti-gay and ‘radical traditionalist Catholic’ organizations with groups like the Ku Klux Klan and Neo-Nazis. Additional materials encouraged students to view themselves as part of a ‘movement for justice’ and provided activism toolkits. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated the program is no longer funded and has been redesigned to focus on reducing teen and family violence. However, OpenTheBooks noted the University of Michigan’s current project page still lists SPLC as a partner and describes the project as integrating its curriculum. NIH records also confirm the original grant documents referenced SPLC’s ‘Teaching Tolerance’ curriculum. Rep. Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, criticized the use of taxpayer resources to promote ‘harmful, leftwing rhetoric’ in education. His remarks followed a House Judiciary Committee hearing titled ‘The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate,’ which examined SPLC’s alleged role in distorting civil rights policy and its ties to extremist funding. The scrutiny comes amid broader political debates over critical race theory and educational content. Author Tyler O’Neil, who testified at the hearing, called on the NIH to address parental concerns about the grant’s curriculum. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions between educational programs and conservative critics over ideological influences in public schools.
This content was automatically generated and/or translated by AI. It may contain inaccuracies. Please refer to the original sources for verification.