VIDEO: Turning Point USA, Moms for Liberty planned visit to NJ school sparks backlash
A planned visit by U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon to Cedar Drive Middle School in Colts Neck has ignited controversy in Monmouth County, where parents and advocacy groups are pushing back against what they see as a politically charged event.
McMahon is scheduled to appear at the school Friday as part of the Trump administration’s “America 250” civics initiative, a nationwide effort marking the country’s 250th birthday. The program includes partnerships with conservative organizations such as Turning Point USA, Moms for Liberty, Hillsdale College, the America First Policy Institute, and PragerU, which will provide materials to the school.
District leaders say the visit will feature a schoolwide assembly, classroom stops and a roundtable with the local Board of Education, emphasizing that the program is meant to promote civic engagement, not partisan messaging.
But some parents disagree. A petition circulating in the district calls for the event’s cancellation, arguing that public schools should remain politically and religiously neutral. Several parents say they plan to keep their children home, concerned the program could expose students to ideological content. LGBTQ+ advocates are also objecting, noting the district recently adopted a “Parental Bill of Rights” policy they fear will harm queer and transgender students and warning that the timing of the visit heightens their concerns.