Communism Crackdown Act

A bill to restore academic integrity and intellectual diversity in Michigan public higher education; to eliminate taxpayer funding of political indoctrination, Marxist frameworks, and anti-American ideologies; to ban public support for organizations and activities that advocate the overthrow or fundamental transformation of the constitutional republic into a socialist or communist system; to enforce viewpoint neutrality, free speech, and constitutional loyalty in public institutions; to establish strict transparency, audit, and enforcement mechanisms; and to reaffirm Michigan’s commitment to American liberty, free enterprise, and constitutional order.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Section 1. Short Title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Michigan Constitutional Defense, Academic Integrity, and Communism Crackdown Act” or the “Michigan First Anti-Subversion and Higher Education Integrity Act.”

Section 2. Legislative Findings.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Michigan’s public colleges, universities, and taxpayer-funded institutions have increasingly become vehicles for ideological indoctrination, promoting Marxist frameworks, critical theory, divisive identity politics, and anti-American narratives at the expense of open inquiry, critical thinking, practical skills, and preparation for productive citizenship.

(b) Organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and other openly communist or Marxist groups advocate ideologies fundamentally incompatible with the United States Constitution, private property, individual liberty, and the American system of ordered liberty. These ideologies have historically produced tyranny, mass poverty, and the deaths of tens of millions wherever implemented.

(c) Taxpayer dollars must never subsidize the teaching of Marxist-Leninist, Maoist, or other communist doctrines as settled truth, nor the promotion of the overthrow or fundamental transformation of the constitutional republic into a socialist or communist system.

(d) The State of Michigan has a compelling interest in ensuring that public institutions remain neutral marketplaces of ideas, that public employees uphold their constitutional oaths, and that no public resources advance subversive or collectivist ideologies that seek to destroy the system that protects free speech and debate.

(e) This act targets the use of public funds, facilities, and official positions, not private political beliefs protected by the First Amendment.

(f) All provisions shall be construed and applied consistent with the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Michigan.

Section 3. Definitions.

As used in this act:

(a) “Communist or Marxist ideology” means any doctrine, framework, or program that advocates the abolition of private property, the dictatorship of the proletariat, class warfare as official policy, or the replacement of the constitutional republic with a socialist or communist system, including Marxist-Leninist, Maoist, and related variants.

(b) “Subversive organization” means any organization that advocates the overthrow or fundamental transformation of the United States constitutional republic into a socialist or communist system, including DSA chapters and affiliated groups when engaged in such advocacy.

(c) “Public institution” means any public college, university, community college, K-12 school district, or state or local government agency receiving state funding.

(d) “Ideological litmus test” means any requirement of a diversity statement, political loyalty oath, or other political affirmation as a condition of hiring, promotion, tenure, or student evaluation.

Section 4. Transparency and Curriculum Accountability in Public Higher Education.

(1) Every public college and university shall maintain a publicly accessible, searchable online database of all course syllabi, required reading lists, and guest speakers, updated each semester.

(2) The State shall commission independent third-party audits of departmental hiring, course offerings, and programming to measure viewpoint diversity. Any department demonstrating extreme ideological imbalance (including heavy dominance of critical theory, mandatory DEI frameworks, or anti-Western perspectives presented as uncontested truth) shall face progressive reductions in state funding until balance is restored.

(3) Ideological litmus tests, diversity statements, and political loyalty oaths are prohibited in all hiring, promotion, and tenure decisions at public institutions. Decisions shall be based solely on academic merit, teaching excellence, and research quality.

Section 5. Free Speech and Viewpoint Diversity Protections.

(1) All public colleges and universities shall adopt and enforce free-speech policies at least as protective as the Chicago Principles, with stronger enforcement against shout-downs, disinvitations, and viewpoint discrimination. Administrators who fail to protect speakers or students shall be subject to disciplinary action and potential removal.

(2) The State shall create incentives, including funding bonuses, for departments that actively recruit faculty representing underrepresented viewpoints, particularly those teaching traditional American history, constitutional law, free-market economics, and Western civilization.

(3) Students are guaranteed the right to disagree with professors on political or ideological topics without academic penalty, to report ideological bias, and to receive viewpoint-neutral grading. An independent student-complaint and whistleblower system shall be established with protected channels and mandatory investigation of verified claims.

Section 6. Defunding of Indoctrination and Low-Value Programs.

(1) The State shall conduct zero-based reviews of all academic departments and programs at public institutions. State funding shall be immediately reduced or phased out for any program that:

(a) Primarily promotes political activism over scholarship;

(b) Teaches overtly anti-American or Marxist content as settled, uncontested truth rather than as one contested viewpoint among others; or

(c) Demonstrates persistently low academic standards and poor employment outcomes.

(2) Administrative spending shall be capped as a percentage of total institutional budget, with savings redirected to merit-based scholarships and high-value programs in STEM, nursing, trades, education, and other fields with strong workforce outcomes.

(3) A portion of state appropriations shall be tied directly to graduation rates and employment outcomes in practical, high-demand fields. Subsidies for low-value ideological majors shall be reduced.

Section 7. Absolute Ban on Taxpayer Support for Subversive Ideologies and Organizations.

(1) No state, local, or public-university funds, contracts, grants, facilities, or resources may be used to support any organization, chapter, event, or program that advocates the overthrow or fundamental transformation of the United States constitutional republic into a socialist or communist system, or that promotes DSA chapters or affiliated groups for such purposes on public campuses or in public buildings.

(2) No public institution shall teach or promote Marxist-Leninist, Maoist, or other communist doctrines as official policy or as settled curriculum.

(3) All partnerships, funding, or programs with foreign communist or socialist regimes (including the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Venezuela, and their front organizations) are prohibited. Full disclosure of all foreign donations exceeding $10,000 is mandatory.

(4) No DSA-affiliated or openly communist organization shall receive state contracts, grants, or nonprofit tax benefits.

Section 8. Public Employee Neutrality and Constitutional Oath.

(1) No state or local government employee may use official time, resources, title, or position to advocate for DSA, communism, Marxism, or the replacement of the constitutional republic with socialist governance.

(2) The constitutional oath of office for all public officials and employees is reinforced to include explicit defense of the Constitution against domestic enemies and subversive ideologies that seek to undermine the republic.

(3) Violations shall result in disciplinary action up to and including termination, civil fines, and referral for prosecution where public funds are misused.

Section 9. Governance, Tenure, and Accountability Reforms.

(1) Governing boards of public universities shall prioritize academic excellence, free inquiry, fiscal responsibility, and representation of alumni and taxpayers.

(2) Lifetime tenure is abolished for all new faculty hires. Future appointments shall be renewable long-term contracts tied to performance, teaching evaluations, and contribution to the institutional mission of scholarship and education. Existing tenured faculty remain protected but are subject to review for repeated, documented violations of neutrality or academic standards.

(3) An independent oversight unit within the Office of the Attorney General is established with authority to investigate violations of this act, subpoena records, terminate funding, and refer cases for civil or criminal enforcement.

Section 10. Positive Civic Education and Rewards for Excellence.

(1) Public institutions shall provide robust, required education on the historical failures of socialism and communism in the twentieth century, the success of America’s constitutional republic and free-enterprise system, and Michigan’s industrial achievements through capitalism and innovation.

(2) Endowed chairs, bonus funding, and “Patriot Scholars” awards shall be created for faculty who teach exceptional courses in American history, Michigan history, constitutional government, and Western civilization.

(3) A Michigan First Scholarship Program shall award merit-based aid prioritizing students who demonstrate civic knowledge and commitment to American constitutional values.

(4) Colleges of education shall be reformed to prepare teachers who emphasize classical American education rather than social-justice activism.

Section 11. Enforcement, Penalties, and Public Reporting.

(1) Violations of funding bans, neutrality rules, or transparency requirements shall result in immediate loss of state funding, contract termination, civil fines, and, where applicable, criminal charges for misuse of public funds, fraud, or sedition under existing law.

(2) Whistleblowers (students, faculty, employees, and citizens) who expose taxpayer-funded promotion of communist or Marxist activities are protected from retaliation and may receive rewards from recovered funds.

(3) The Attorney General’s oversight unit shall publish an annual public report detailing audits conducted, funds redirected or recovered, violations found, and corrective actions taken.

Section 12. Severability.

If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act and its application to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.

Section 13. Effective Date.

This act takes effect 90 days after enactment. Transparency databases, initial audits, and the Attorney General oversight unit shall be operational within 180 days. Funding reallocations and hiring reforms shall begin in the next fiscal year.

Enacting Section.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Education, Not Indoctrination.

American Values Only. No Taxpayer-Funded Subversion.

Constitution First. Michigan First.