Okay this Executive Order on the 1776 Commission is a lot (and about education), so let's tweet through it for a second. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-establishing-presidents-advisory-1776-commission/

In a sentence that acknowledges the existence of slavery before abolition, as well as civil war and unnamed crises, it declares those "clear evidence" of an exceptional nation devoted to its ideals.

This Executive Order refers to slavery as a "curse," but describes learning about that history (and its moral repercussions) as vilifying the Founders and students being "taught to hate their own country."

"It is necessary to provide America’s young people access to what is genuinely inspiring and unifying in our history."

This is as close as the Order gets to saying that omission of some U.S. history is required to create their "common story" that inspires "patriotism."

The Executive Order establishes up to 20 people to the commission as two-year appointees, including "subject matter experts." It also places cabinet members on the commission. This would include DeVos and the Secretary of Defense, among others.

Within a year, the Commission (assuming a Trump re-election or Biden not dissolving this Order) is supposed to produce a report "regarding the core principles of the American founding and how these principles may be understood to further enjoyment of 'the blessings of liberty.'”

The Executive Order also calls for the Commission to create an award for students who display knowledge about U.S. "founders," the Declaration of Independence and the "soldiers and battles" of the Revolutionary War.

The Commission is called, in this Order, to "ensure patriotic education" is presented at national parks, monuments and museums.

In somewhat opaque wording, the Order seems to suggest that "patriotic education" about the nation's founding at public institutions will be prioritized in funding. This wording could (seemingly) negatively impact something like the proposed Smithsonian Latino museum.

Here's the direct quote:

"The 1776 commission shall... advise agencies on prioritizing the American founding in Federal grants and initiatives, including those described in section 4 of this order."

Section 4 is the edict about national monuments/parks/museums.

The 1776 Commission will be funded by the Department of Education.

The White House really wants schools to observe Constitution Day, "including by verifying compliance with each educational institution that receives Federal funds. All relevant agencies shall take action, as appropriate, to enhance compliance with that law."

Notable that the only two people named in this Executive Order—Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Lincoln—would not be included in the "patriotic education" as described. Also notable that the violence they faced for their actions is not mentioned.

The Executive Order does offer two paragraphs on the importance of local control of curricula, which seems counterproductive to their desire to impose "patriotic education." Would they endorse more local Indigenous history in schools?

The upshot of the EO:

- Establish "patriotic education" as a fundamental tool of national unity.

- Create accepted facts about the USA's founding, fund their placement/celebration in public spaces and reward their promotion.

- Executive Branch decides who shapes those facts.

Aside: if you want to be able to recognize Stephen Miller's heavy hand in White House writing, some key tells:

"polemics grounded in poor scholarship"

"America’s laboratory of liberty"

"A restoration of American education"